World Cup could cause fewer travellers next year

This year’s summer holiday figures have been significantly down on the previous by around 11 per cent. Much of it is to do with the worldwide recession that has hit the travelling public. Many travel agents slashed prices to try and encourage Brits to leave their country and head for some foreign sun, but apart from some last minute bookings many decided to not holiday or stay at home. This caused some smaller firms to go under and a few major players as well and next year is looking even bleaker for the British travel market.

The Football World Cup in South Africa is due to kick off in June 2010 and many English guys and girls will be glued to their screens in their comfy armchair hoping that England can do well. This is already having an affect on summer bookings say travel companies. One action they might take is to raise the cost of package holidays to try and meet the shortfall of earnings, but that would only stop more from booking holidays. It is a catch 22 situation for smaller firms for whichever way they go they could end up on the scrap heap like so many have done this year.

Airlines will also be hard hit next summer as the English stay at home watching the footie. Carriers that use UK airports have reported that 16.5 million people less used their seats last year than in 2004. This year’s figures are not in yet, but that number is expected to drop further although budget airline, Ryanair, have grown their capacity by more than 50 per cent in the last five years showing that cheaper does work.