Adventure operators see bookings spike in advance of testing announcement

The easing of restrictions on quarantine was heavily flagged over the weekend, with Intrepid Travel saying this had had an effect on bookings.

Zina Bencheikh, Intrepid’s managing director EMEA said: “News of a vaccine and the current quarantine rules being replaced by a testing plan means that customers are feeling more confident to book their 2021 holiday.

“We saw a spike in bookings over the weekend, particularly to bucket-list destinations such as Peru and Nepal.”

However, she added the industry still needed the relaxation of Foreign Office advice “for travel to really open up”.

“There are many countries with low infection rates where the locals are heavily reliant on tourism and they need us to return.”

Intrepid now has a partnership with Confirm Testing for pre and post-departure Covid tests.

G Adventures also claimed an uptick in bookings. It reported Costa Rica, Peru, Thailand, Nepal, Tanzania and “once in a lifetime” expeditions to Antarctica as popular following the launch of the operator’s cyber sale, launched 10 days ago.

G Adventures also highlighted longer duration travel as a trend among millennials.

The operator’s sale runs until 30 November and Stu Darnley, national sales manager, said the uplift in demand presented an opportunity for agents:

“Travellers are hungry to book their future adventures and there is a huge opportunity for our valued agency partners to be capitalising on the positive news of three vaccines, as well as the great deals in the market leading up to Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

“With destinations such as Costa Rica and Peru proving popular with UK and Irish travellers, as well as a number of active tours that require a lot of preparation, travellers will be looking to experts for advice and reassurance ahead of their next adventure.”