Best Holiday Lettings

Category: Holidays

  • Foreign investment floods into Montenegrin tourism

    After gaining independence in 2006, Montenegro, a rustic half the scale of Wales and with a population of just 625,000 has attracted over €4 billion in foreign investment, and now has investors from over 100 countries all over the world.

    The latest property development funded by British private equity company, the Boka Group – who’ve themselves managed over €1 billion of development value within the country, celebrated the beginning of construction on its latest scheme of luxury villas overlooking Kotor Bay last week, marking the beginning with a foundation stone ceremony attended by the mayor of Kotor.

    Speaking recently minister of sustainable development and tourism, Branimir Gvozdenović said: “It is a simple country during which to do business and visit.

    “We desire to take care of luxury tourism and accomplish a high standard of service to present us a competitive advantage.

    “We are very proud that we’ve investors from 107 countries around the globe.

    “Only two years after independence, foreign direct investment had increased near 1 billion euro, in comparison with ten million euro only seven years before.”

    The minister also stressed: “Not only will Montenegro have the ability to offer prime quality accommodation, it also offers a various experience- in a brief expanse of time, you’re able to visit the coast, the canyons inland, Lake Skadar and the mountains.”

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  • Cruise ships arrive back to European waters from winter routes

    As the summer cruise season gets under way in Europe, 96 ships have sailed back to European waters from their winter routes within the Caribbean, Latin America, Africa and Asia.

    This brings the whole fleet within the region this summer to 200 cruise ships, operated by 65 lines, serving as a minimum 530 destinations stretching from the Mediterranean to the Arctic.

    Underlining the industry’s steady growth in Europe, the eu summer fleet will include 11 new ships this year, including three ships re-entering service for brand spanking new operators because the data compiled for the Cruise Lines International Association in Europe shows.

    “The collection of new destinations, new lines and new ships entering service in Europe this year are all further evidence of ways cruising is growing and should keep growing within the region, drawing on Europe’s unique offering with regards to its rich culture, its varied geography and its long maritime traditions, and its expertise in hospitality and repair,” said CLIA Europe chairman Manfredi Lefebvre d’Ovidio.

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  • International visitors flock to New Zealand following Hobbit success

    Tourism New Zealand has revealed UK visitor numbers within the first half 2013 were up 3.3 per cent compared with the identical time last year.

    Globally, there was a robust increase in international visitor arrivals, setting an effective base for the winter season.

    “When we glance on the first six months of the year we see a robust picture for arrivals -with total arrivals up 5.8 per cent against an identical period last year and holiday arrivals up ten per cent,” explained Justin Watson, Tourism New Zealand acting chief executive.

    “This puts the industry in a terrific good place previous to the 2013 ski season which has already seen a great start – with record levels of snow to all ski-fields and Australian arrivals up 17 per cent for the month.

    “We anticipate seeing further growth over the approaching months.”

    For the primary six months of the year holiday arrivals are up across Tourism New Zealand’s top six markets: Australia six per cent, China 30.9 per cent, US 20.7 per cent, UK 3.3 per cent, Japan 7.8 per cent, Germany 2.9 per cent.

    “It is encouraging to determine this growth from our traditional long-haul markets after what have been a tricky few years for the industry,” added Watson.

    The US has become the third-largest source of tourists to New Zealand.

    “The underlying growth from the long-haul markets further supports the positive impact seen from the investment in marketing New Zealand’s association with the Hobbit trilogy,” continued Watson.

    “Our 100 per cent Middle-earth, 100 per cent Pure New Zealand campaign continues to gain its objectives – providing the extra motivation and reason to transform interest in a vacation to New Zealand into an exact booking.”

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  • Spain enjoyed largest growth sales up 75% year on year

    Tourism New Zealand says UK visitor numbers in thefirst half 2013 were up 3.3% compared with the identical time last year. Globally, there was a robust increase in international visitor arrivals, setting a superb base for the winter season.

    “When we glance on the first six months of the year we see a sturdy picture for arrivals -with total arrivals up 5.8 per cent against the similar period last year and holiday arrivals up 10.0 per cent,’ says Justin Watson, Tourism New Zealand’s acting Chief Executive.

    “This puts the industry in an excellent good place prior to the 2013 ski season which has already seen an excellent start – with record levels of snow to all ski-fields and Australian arrivals up 17.0 per cent for the month. We anticipate seeing further growth over the arrival months.”

    For the primary six months of the year holiday arrivals are up across Tourism New Zealand’s top six markets: Australia 6.0%, China 30.9%, US 20.7%, UK 3.3%, Japan 7.8%, Germany 2.9%.

    “It is encouraging to peer this growth from our traditional long-haul markets after what was a tough few years for the industry.

    The US has become the third-largest source of holiday makers to New Zealand.

    “The underlying growth from the long-haul markets further supports the positive impact seen from the investment in marketing New Zealand’s association with the Hobbit trilogy.

    “Our 100% Middle-earth, 100% Pure New Zealand campaign continues to reach its objectives – providing the extra motivation and reason to transform interest in a vacation to New Zealand into a real booking.”

    Figures also just released report overall international arrivals up 5.6 per cent for June 2013. Total arrivals were unchanged year-on-year, because of 2012 being boosted by the Rugby World Cup, but up 5.0 per cent in comparison with year ending June 2011.

  • Package holiday bookings up as holidaymakers snap up heat-wave deals

    On-line travel specialist loveholidays.com has reported a surge in package holiday bookings to European hotpots as travellers make the most fantastic offers available.  The new findings come hot off the heels of a report from industry regulator ABTA which suggested that this summer there was a rise of virtually 50% in package holidays booked.  ABTA’s figures show that nearly half (48%) of these who booked an overseas holiday in 2012 booked a package holiday, up 6% from 2011 and 11% on 2010.

    Commenting at the increase, loveholidays.com CEO Alex Francis said: “Holidaymakers often find that organising a visit independently is a risky business. Problems can range from travellers being hit by hidden charges from so called low-cost airlines through to a scarcity of protection against weather and other unforeseeable factors.”

    In April 2013 loveholidays.com launched ‘flight plus hotel packages.’  This new format enables holidaymakers to create a tailored package including flights, accommodation, selection of departure date and preferred airline all in accordance with individual requirements. loveholidays.com then ‘package this up’ ensuring travellers are fully protected by the company’s ATOL license.

    loveholidays.com latest figures show a rise in sales to many popular destinations inside the last year. Spain is the most important success story with a 75% year on year sales growth followed by Tunisia at 54.3%, Balearic Islands at 31.8% and Turkey with 22.4% increase.

    Francis continues: ‘Economic problems in a number of our most advantageous destinations is creating very cheap in-resort prices, meaning package holidays are again offering consumers fantastic value for money. These coupled with the terror that holidays booked independently bring an entire set of problems from loss of protection to excessive flight costs, is having an instantaneous effect at the increase fashionable for package holidays.

    ‘Since the launch of our flight plus hotel packages we have got been astonished by the variety of customers tailor making their very own holidays.  We suspect it’s as a result of independent travellers still finding that this sort of holiday suits their every need with the added assurance that they’re fully protected from the unknown.’