ITAA Quarterly Survey Results ITAA reveal the top travel trends of 2015

Dublin, 22^nd July 2015   Service, advice and security are the primary reasons that Irish Travel Agents see 67% of their business come from returning customers according to the latest Irish Travel Agents Association quarterly survey.

When asked how people made their holiday bookings agents reported that ‘by phone’ and ‘in store’ were the most common methods.

Commenting on the findings, Pat Dawson, CEO of the ITAA said, “Purchasing a holiday is a big commitment. Irish people like to know that there is a real person taking care of them and hand picking a holiday to suit their specific needs. Consumers have a vast array of options when it comes to purchasing holidays nowadays but Irish customers seem to appreciate that with a travel agent their care and service won’t be managed by an algorithm”.

The survey findings also revealed that for the second quarter in a row travel agents listed Spain, Portugal and Italy as the top three most popular destinations for Irish travellers in 2015.

When asked about the biggest travel trends in 2015 so far, agents reported that customers had larger budgets than recent years and that ‘all inclusive’ packages were high on peoples list of priorities. Some agents also reported a further rise in popularity for destinations closer to home such as Portugal and Spain due to increased wariness towards countries located close to ongoing conflicts.

Referring to other current affairs news, 65% of agents reported that there had been no negative impact on new booking levels to Greece as a result of their ongoing financial turmoil.

Pat Dawson, CEO of the ITAA said, “On the whole we have definitely seen a rise in the budgets that people have to spend on their holidays, but people are also expecting a lot more for their money, they want high quality accommodation and they are looking for all inclusive packages. The recession taught us all to be more cautious with our spending and travel agents are working hard to provide people with exceptional value”.

The ITAA represents Ireland’s travel Industry, bringing together 100 member companies covering 161 outlets in different towns and cities throughout the Republic of Ireland. ITAA members are licensed by the Commission for Aviation Regulation and are fully bonded providing full financial protection for their customers.

ENDS