DIY Packages
According to recent research, just one in seven Britons now use a travel agent to book holidays. The purpose of the travel agent is to provide holiday makers reliable knowledge in terms of costs, transportation methods and local information. However, you don’t have to have backpacked around the world to outwit some travel agent staff. Savvy holiday makers no longer require the service of travel agents as they put their own packages together combining online low cost flights and private villa or apartment rentals.
They are doing their own research via magazines, the internet and friends and family and customising their holidays to the last detail to fit their exact requirements. This is certainly the trend on the Spanish Costas where bus loads of tourists used to be dropped off by the bus load at now dated hotels and be left under the tedious ‘care’ of tour operator reps. During the past decade tourists of all age groups have decided that they want more freedom and independence from their holiday and no longer want to holiday en masse.
Holiday Lets
With the surplus of holiday lets on the market there is no longer a need to stay in a hotel in Spain. For those who do require the luxury of being waited on, they are more inclined to travel much further a field as more exotic destinations have become easily accessible in recent years. One wonders to what extent this has had an impact on hoteliers and also restaurateurs as self sufficient holiday makers easily find their way around the local supermarkets.
Old Fashioned Hoteliers
One of the major stumbling blocks for the hoteliers was their lack of foresight. It is true that although the Spanish are generally warm and hospitable people, they do not have the reputation of countries such as the States for customer service. Therefore, if people want a hotel holiday they can spend the same and be truly taken care of in Florida or save a few hundred Euros and go it alone in Spain.
With so many Britons and Irish buying in Spain they could have predicted a shift from hotel holidays to private rentals. However, this lack of foresight has caused them to continue offering an uncompetitively priced, old fashioned service which hasn’t adapted to the changing tastes and demands of tourists. They simply haven’t been able to keep up and offer an alternative, unlike the airlines who when faced with budget competitors had to adapt to retain custom.
Travel Agent Tricks
Likewise, people don’t want to be caught out by travel agents complicated pricing structures and hidden fees. By booking their flights and accommodation direct they can avoid any sneaky charges by middlemen all under the same umbrella but wearing different logos.
Consumer Demands
This trend towards DIY packages is reflective of consumers’ behaviour. They are more knowledgeable and they know exactly what they are looking for therefore they no longer need to be ‘sold to’ by travel agents. Whether it be shopping for a new washing machine or cheap airline tickets, consumers are prepared to put a little bit of effort into their research in order to get the best deal for their hard earned cash.
Written by
Susan Pedalino