Botswana tourism investors are rubbing their hands gleefuly in anticipation of a boom as the country is listed as an emerging destination for 2015. British travel organisation, ABTA predicts that Botswana will attract more British tourists than rival destinations which boasts white sandy beaches and aquamarine blue seas. A reasearch by ABTA revealed that British holidaymakers are planning more city breaks than beach holidays in 2015 as tourists trade sun for sights and Botswana is a favoured destination.
Botswana is the only African country in a list of 12 international destination that are expected to emerge in 2015. Austria is at the top of the list, followed by Botswana, Cuba, Dominican Republic and Japan. Abta said British holidaymakers have been playing it safe in recent years, but next year more than a third (35 per cent) think they will travel to a country they have never visited before. The report, produced in association with the Foreign & Commonwealth Office, also found that the ‘destination celebration’ is growing in popularity as more groups travel abroad for weddings, anniversaries and stag and hen trips.
Another trend is holidaymakers’ desire to live like a local in search of ‘more authentic’ experiences. Many holiday companies are now offering people the chance to enjoy hidden gems alongside traditional tourist attractions. Abta said consumer confidence is slowly returning to the holiday market with more consumers planning to spend more on their holidays in 2015 than those looking to cut back.
According to a survey of 2,001 Britons, 20 per cent of respondents said they would spend more on trips next year compared to 15 per cent who will spend less. Abta said the growth is being led by more affluent holidaymakers who are taking more holidays, package trips and a desire to maximise leisure time by combining travel with adventure or activity holidays or events.