Good News for US tourism!!

[MJG]

Seemingly ABTA are predicting a significant number of Brits will still visit the US despite the exchange rate. Seemingly the new president, the general cost of living and (relatively) low fuel prices are contributing to an overall positive feel about the US and good reasons to travel there.

Opposite story for continental Europe though where the nearly 121 exchange rate is discouraging Brits travelling there. Other places expected to be popular are Dubai, Turkey and Mexico.

There views interestingly reflect our plans with a trip to Orlando booked for June and no plans to travel to France this year which we have done in the summer for a good few years now.

[reemur]

Great News
A Happy & Prosperous New Year to everyone
Carol

[gail and david roberts]

Fingers crossed you are right
Happy new year to all [party2]

[Katys Grandad]

Latest figures to the end of September 2008 showed a remarkable rise in UK visitors to the US of 14% on the same period in 2007 and the UK accounts for easily the highest number of visitors from Western European countries. Perhaps very significantly, UK visitors numbers were very slightly down in September 2008 itself which, coincidentally, is the month when the credit crunch really bit and the steep decline in the Pound occurred. The figures for Q4 will be very interesting.

It's hard to see people completely deserting the US as a holiday destination because it's such a diverse country and offers almost every type of holiday. What I expect to see is people being much more cost conscious and trimming the 'extras' to have a holiday at all. That's what I'm doing!

[MarkJan]

After travelling to the Eurozone 5 times this year Spain, France & Ireland with work, I can confirm the Euro-GBP rate is painful. Even at £1-$1.50 the US still offers excellent value attractions and food & fuel are still cheap compared to the UK.

[MJG]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Katys Grandad
What I expect to see is people being much more cost conscious and trimming the 'extras' to have a holiday at all. That's what I'm doing!
[/quote]

I suppose that's sort of what we plan to do - 14 nights, 5 days Disney (already purchased) 1+1 Seaworld (again already purchased) - leaves 7 days for chilling by the pool and or stuff like the boggy creak air boats and the like.

Expecting a couple of trips to WallMart for stuff and eat at the villa.

Just perfect -

[brownm]

All we need for January now is the tour operators to have some decent sales on flights!! and Thomas cook are the first to start[clap][clap][clap]

Mark.