Revealed: Top 20 Longhaul
Destinations for 2009
Forget traditional package deals;
holidaymakers want a deeper experience when they travel
abroad
A new report has confirmed that British travellers
planning breaks in 2009 want much more from their
holidays than the customary fortnight in the sun.
The weak pound means that this year many Brits are
looking beyond traditional short haul hot spots -
spreading their wings to experience the rich cultures of
countries in the Far East, Middle East, Africa and
Indian Ocean.
The preference for these exotic destinations isn’t
motivated exclusively by economics though. People are
increasingly expressing a need to travel inwardly as
well as outwardly, actively seeking destinations that
offer opportunities to nurture the mind, body and
spirit. Call it ‘explorism’ – a new kind of tourism.
Kuoni’s 2009 Longhaul report reveals that 41% of people
say their primary motivation for taking a holiday is to
‘soothe their souls’ via pursuits like reading, painting
and listening to music whilst on a break. Over a quarter
want to stimulate their minds with cultural events, or
by learning new languages and skills. Just under a third
aim to nurture their bodies, citing yoga, detox, hiking
and sports among favoured activities on holiday.
Nick Hughes, Kuoni’s managing director, said: “Travel is
no longer just a holiday choice. It impacts our
lifestyle, stimulates our wellbeing and influences our
fashion, design and food choices. Kuoni customers really
want to delve deeply under the skin of their
destination, to explore further and experience more. We
call this growing trend Explorism and we believe it is
the new tourism.”
As such, this year’s top longhaul destinations make for
an exotic mix. The Maldives tops the list; a marine
paradise that offers some of the best spa treatments in
the world. The temples, idyllic beaches, shopping and
nightlife of Thailand secure its second place, with the
vast and varied USA coming third.
Easy access from the UK to Egypt and Dubai ensure
popularity with the ‘explorism’ set. Kenya has recovered
brilliantly from political upheaval to draw in the
safari crowd. The fascination with the Far East remains
strong. Caribbean havens like St. Lucia and Barbados
also feature in the Top 20, as does New Zealand and
Australia.The Top
Destinations
For more information visit
www.kuoni.co.uk
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