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Airtours is continuing to expand its offering in the upper luxury segment. “In the ultra-luxury sector, we have added many new and extraordinary products to our portfolio and are offering the largest selection of carefully curated and hand-picked travel experiences this year,” said Steffen Boehnke, Director Airtours on the occasion of the International Tourism Exchange (ITB) in Berlin.
The luxury travel market is growing rapidly. Global spending on luxury travel is forecast to hit an all-time high of $1,5 trillion this year. Airtours, Tui's luxury travel brand, is also seeing a sharp rise in demand for unique ultra-luxury experiences.
Top climber in winter
Exotic travel destinations are currently in greatest demand. The top mover in the current winter season is Qatar with a 68 percent increase in guests and a rapidly growing range of first-class hotels. It is the perfect destination for a relaxed luxury holiday with a large selection of wellness options and good flight connections from Germany and Austria. In South America, the focus is currently on Peru, Chile and Argentina. There is particular demand for individual, privately guided tours with extraordinary experiences. These include traditional rituals with a shaman or “star gazing” on a tour of Chile over the Atacama Desert, because nowhere else are the stars more impressive.
Sri Lanka is also among the top three emerging destinations for luxury travelers in winter and is recording high double-digit growth. The island off the southern tip of India offers an ideal combination of discovery and relaxation.
Top emerging destinations in summer
Mauritius is a rising star in the summer with an increase in bookings of over 50 percent. This summer, the volcanic island in the Indian Ocean is captivating many families from the luxury segment with its dreamy white beaches and green hinterland. Mauritius is also becoming more and more a popular year-round destination.
Luxury holidays in Europe will also be in high demand next summer. The top destination for Airtours customers is Croatia with a booking increase of 54 percent. The country on the Adriatic scores with its unique island landscape, but also with an extensive range of top hotels, easy accessibility by plane and car and its famous hospitality. Portugal is also one of the rising stars in the summer. Lisbon and Porto, with their high-quality hotels, are the hub of discerning travelers. Active luxury guests appreciate the Algarve with its many golf opportunities and the flower island of Madeira.
