Tourists rediscover adventure post-covid

Travellers are rediscovering their “spirit of adventure” after putting “big holiday plans on hold” due to the pandemic, according to a luxur y travel company.

Kuoni said it has seen a surge in interest for complex, longhaul holidays featuring multiple locations over the past four weeks.

The Surrey-based tour opera t o r ’s t a i l o r - ma d e d iv i s i o n e x p e r i e n c e d a 3 6 p e r c e n t increase in website visits during that period compared with the previous four weeks.

B o o k i n g s i n t h e p a s t f o u r weeks for group tours to India have recovered to 80 per cent of pre -pandemic levels. Other locations with a recent rise in popularity among UK holidaymakers include Costa Rica, Japan and Kenya, Kuoni said.

The company released the figures on the eve of UK travel trade organisation Abta’s a n n u a l c o nve n t i o n i n Mar - rakesh, Morocco. It is the first t i me t h e e ve n t wi l l b e h e l d overseas since the start of the pandemic, indicating the sector’s renewed confidence.

Kuoni chief executive Francis Torrilla said: “The spirit of adventure is back. A thirst for exploration is definitely in play for British travellers and t h e r e’s b e e n a n o t a b l e s h i f t even in recent weeks.

“Many people have put their big holiday plans on hold for three years, so they are coming to us for advice and expertise.”

Mr Torrilla said that a year ago, most bookings were for s i n g l e d e s t i n a t i o n s a s p e o - ple wanted “straightfor ward trips” and were “happy to just be on holiday again after the upset and turmoil of the pandemic”.

C u s t o me r s a r e n ow “f e e l - i n g m o r e c o n f i d e n t a b o u t the prospect of exploring the world again”, he said.

“We’re seeing demand growing for multi-destination itine r a r i e s , a n d mor e c o mpl ex travel arrangements for longer durations for up to three weeks as countries like Thailand and Japan finally drop their Covid entry restrictions.”

Kuoni said couples are typi c a l l y s p e n d i n g b e t w e e n £15,000 and £20,0000 on bookings involving customised itineraries.

O n e r e c e n t b o o k i n g b y a pair of food and wine enthusiasts going to South America will see them starting in Chilean capital Santiago, visiting A rg e n t i n a’s Me n d o z a w i n e region and travelling through Chile’s Atacama Desert.

Small group adventure travel company Intrepid added te n n e w to u r s to i t s p r e mi - um range last month to meet d e m a n d f r o m “d i s c e r n i n g travellers” who want “handpicked accommodation, private transport, first class train journeys and an array of signature stays and exclusive experiences”.

Na d h i m Z a h aw i s a i d ye s - terday people should be "sens i b l e " i n h o w t h e y b e h ave a g a i n s t t h e b a c kd r o p o f a n increase in coronavirus cases.

The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster was asked if the UK government i s a dv i s i n g people to be careful about visiting elderly or vulnerable relatives following similar comments by Dr Susan Hopkins, chief medical adviser at the UK Health Security Agency.

Mr Zahawi told BB C One’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg: “Well, we have to be careful. I was the vaccine deployment minister and I’ll be gett i n g my b o o s t e r.” H e a l s o encouraged eligible people to get their jabs.