A total of 76% of agents have seen an increase in bookings compared to the same period last year and another 10% said that bookings remained the same – but 14% saw a decrease, according to the Irish Travel Agents Association’s latest quarterly members survey.
Spain, Portugal and the USA are the hotspots for Irish holidaymakers this winter. The USA is rising again in popularity as increasing numbers of Irish holidaymakers plan trips to Florida, New York and Las Vegas this winter. With new routes to the USA announced by Aer Lingus and Icelandic airline WOW in recent days, this is a trend that looks set to grow. Other popular destinations that appear in the survey findings include Mexico, Dubai and Cuba.
Pat Dawson, ITAA Chief Executive, said: “The USA has knocked Italy out of the top three destinations for this quarter, revealing that Irish people are now prepared to spend more and travel further for their holidays. However, Irish people are also expecting a lot more for their money: they want high quality accommodation and they are looking for all-inclusive packages.”
