Tour operator agency Cocktail Holidays estimates a 20% increase in turnover for this year, reaching 82 million RON.
The agency sent over 15,000 Romanian tourists to their favorite holiday destinations: Greece, Spain, Turkey, or Tenerife. The majority of charter holidays sold this year were for Greece, accounting for 59%.
For this summer, the tour operator scheduled 16,600 seats on charter flights, a decrease of nearly 2% compared to the 2014 summer season. However, aircraft occupancy rates increased by 5% compared to the previous year.
Due to the crisis in Greece, during the period when no bookings were made, Cocktail Holidays lost 600 tourists who could have purchased holidays worth 300,000 EUR. Additionally, the Greeks’ decision to increase VAT from 13% to 23% led to higher accommodation rates.
Dan Goicea, owner of Cocktail Holidays, stated that the smallest increase is 6%, but some prices are even 20% higher.
“For 2016, tourists will shift towards cheaper packages, and we are not considering increasing capacity on charter flights. It is also possible that tourists to Turkey will decrease, especially due to the situation in the Arab world. Because of the attack in Tunisia, demand for holidays in Arab countries has dropped dramatically,” specified Dan Goicea.
The first charter to Jordan was supposed to take off from Bucharest in early September, but the riots and tense situation in the Middle East caused demand for holidays in the Arab world to fall. Another reason, Goicea adds, is the lack of intense promotion of this destination by the Jordanian authorities.
However, the tour operator will test the market again with holidays to Jordan starting next spring.
For New Year’s Eve, the tour operator is counting on the charter to Madeira, already 25% booked, while other charters will be operated to Sharm El Sheikh, Mauritius, and Antalya.
In total, the tour operator will send over 20,000 tourists on holiday this year.
Source: Economica
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the projected turnover for Cocktail Holidays in 2015?
The agency expects a 20% increase, reaching approximately 82 million RON.
How did the Greek crisis impact the agency’s operations?
The crisis led to a loss of 600 potential tourists and increased accommodation costs due to a VAT hike from 13% to 23%.
Which destinations are available for New Year’s Eve charters?
Cocktail Holidays is offering charter flights to Madeira, Sharm El Sheikh, Mauritius, and Antalya.