Asia expansion in winter 2010/11
FTI is expanding long-haul holidays in Asia for winter 2010/11 as part of its growth plans.
FTI tourism chief Boris Raoul Foto: PR
Top of the expansion list is Asia with a new Far East brochure covering China, Taiwan and Japan alongside the existing Asia brochure. A separate Thailand brochure will follow in September. "With the expanded offering we are positioning ourselves as a specialist for Asia," said tourism chief Boris Raoul.
FTI is also increasing capacity for European beach destinations. The Munich-based operator is resuming holidays to Cyprus, and has expanded capacity for Spain and Portugal. It has also doubled the size of its self-drive holidays brochure, adding winter breaks in Germany and Switzerland to the existing destinations.
The top destinations next winter are likely to be Egypt, Turkey and the Canary Islands along with Mexico, according to Raoul. "The country has recovered from the bookings decline after the swine flu in spring 2009," he said. The Emirates and Indian Ocean islands, where capacity has been increased more than 20%, will also be popular, he predicted.
FTI will hold prices generally stable for winter 2010/11, including for Spain, Tunisia and the Dominican Republic. Holidays in Cuba, Brazil and Italy will be 3% cheaper, Mexico will be 4% cheaper while Turkey and the Emirates will be 5% less expensive. USA holidays will go up by 3-6% due to the higher dollar, and Egypt will be 3% more expensive.
In terms of summer 2010 bookings, FTI currently has a "high single-digit" rise in revenues and bookings which it aims to hold until the end of the business year on September 30, Raoul said.
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Tuesday, 31.08.2010
