News UK travel update 03/03/21

News UK travel update
03/03/21

Welcome to
News UK
  With the roadmap to a return to normality now set
  out, here at News UK we are going to continue to
  sharing the latest trends and analysis to give you as
  much information as possible as we navigate the
  coming weeks and months back to normal life.

  One thing that we can be sure of is a huge pent up
  demand from Brits to get travelling again, with
  holidays consistently topping the list of the most
  desired activities to be spending on once they can.
  This is backed up in our latest research that we will
  be sharing with you very soon.

  In the meantime, please do let us know if you have
  any questions or information requests.

Editor’s letter
Lucy Perrin
Editor, Times Expert Traveller

    There’s a definite sense of optimism in the air
    following last week’s announcement with most
    OTAs reporting huge rises in bookings.

    Greece, Turkey and Italy are the frontrunners for the
    most likely summer escapes and, hopefully, we'll
    start getting some answers on international travel
    and requirements on April 12th.

    But it’s not just international travel where the
    interest lies. Staycations remain popular, particularly
    for those who won’t be fully vaccinated until
    autumn, and self-catered accommodation is at the
    top of the list, with coastal properties and quirky
    places to stay being most popular.

Times Travel
content
  Following the announcement of the roadmap last
  week, all eyes turned to what holidays this summer
                                                         Top 5 most read travel articles last week:
  will look like.

  The most viewed article looked at the European         1.   The six most likely destinations for a post
  destinations such as Greece, Turkey and Italy that          lockdown holiday
  are likely to welcome Brits back this summer.          2.   An excruciating summer stuck at home
                                                              awaits us 20-somethings
  After that, things were unsurprisingly dominated by    3.   Drink it all in: 10 great pub walks
  UK holiday inspiration, from pub walks to coastal      4.   The coastal hotels that can’t wait to welcome
  hotels and spas.                                            you back
                                                         5.   The best spa days in England
  Also, spare a thought for the unvaccinated 20
  somethings, who are likely to be last in line to get
  overseas.

Sun Travel
content
  Despite the generally optimistic mood last week,
  Sun readers had the highest levels of engagement
                                                        Top 5 most read travel articles last week:
  with some of the more cautious pieces on the site.
                                                        1.   Fears for foreign holidays as it’s warned border
  The threat of new variants and the delay in an EU
                                                             could be closed AFTER lockdown ends to stop
  vaccine rollout being set to delay overseas travel
                                                             new variants
  delivered high levels of engagement, whilst on the
                                                        2.   UK campsites devastated as thousands to
  domestic front, the threat of campsites remaining
                                                             remain closed until May 17 due to toilet rules
  closed due to shared toilet block rules was also a
                                                        3.   More fears for Brits’ summer holidays abroad as
  cause for some concern.
                                                             EU so far behind vaccine rollout
                                                        4.   Take a trip to the Maldives’ palm-lined beaches
  In more positive news, readers were flocking to the
                                                             and crystal-clear waters for just £14pp a night
  article around staying in The Maldives from just
                                                        5.   Inside the abandoned Thomas Cook planes that
  £14pppn as they sought some positive escapism.
                                                             were so mouldy they had to be torn apart

Weekly travel
search term trends
  When looking at the most significant Google search
  trends last week, we could see a couple of clear        Notable search increases last week:
  themes.
                                                          -   Easter 2022 UK (Breakout)
  There was a significant uplift in people looking        -   Ocean cruise liners (+1,650%)
  ahead, with Easter 2022 and bucket list trips such as   -   Silver Muse cruise ship (+900%)
  world cruises both seeing large spike.                  -   Fred Olsen world cruise 2023 (+750%)
                                                          -   Summer break Amsterdam (+450%)
  2021 holiday plans were also very much on the           -   Mekong river cruise (+300%)
  agenda with the likelihood of Greece reopening          -   Things to do in summer 2021 (+250%)
  giving searches for Zante a boost, whilst others        -   Holidays to Zante 2021 (+200%)
  merely wanted to know what to do this summer.
                                                          -   Where to go for winter sun (+190%)

Fly Out To Help Out

  For one week only, we’ll be giving exclusive Sun
  offers to millions of holiday lovers from 24th April.

  We are offering selected partners the opportunity to
  work with The Sun on a “blended partnership” basis.

  Alongside heavily reduced rates for commercial
  activity, we will accept commission on any bookings
  made that week as a result of your activity.
                                                          Teaser starts: 10th April
  We will issue you with a dedicated, trackable phone     Launch date: 24th April
  number and an exclusive Sun discount code that            End date: 1st May
  consumers will use to redeem any offers.

  Cost: from £10k - please ask for more information

Travel Trade
Event

  We are currently conducting our latest piece of
  reader panel research and will be hosting an event
  shortly to share our findings with you.

  In addition, we would be interested to learn if there
  are any particular areas you would like us to explore
  to ensure we tailor the event appropriately.

  Please click the link below to submit your responses.
  https://forms.gle/kXNVM7eDNq5gRzBD6

Cruise supplement
– 11th April
  Following the successful return of The Sunday Times
  cruise supplement in January, we are delighted to
  announce our next edition will be published on
  Sunday 11th April.

  Editorial will include the following:

  •   The latest cruise news
  •   A roundup of the 20 best expert-led cruises
  •   New ships and voyages on the Mekong and Nile
  •   Q&A with Cruise Editor Sue Bryant answering
      our readers most popular questions

  To find out more and book, please get in touch.

UK content hub on
Times Travel
  To help support domestic tourism, we have been
  producing vast amounts of content on The Times
  Expert Traveller website, giving our readers the
  inspiration to plan their 2021 UK holiday.

  From the most unusual places to stay and most dog
  friendly hotels to the best luxury hotels in London
  and favourite weekend breaks away from the
  capital.

  You can now run native content around this and any
  other sections on the site to get a highly engaged
  audience. Get in touch with us for more details.

Thank you
Get in touch: newsuktravel@news.co.uk