Development of the UK Travel&Tourism Industry . . .
Introduction of jet aircraft- P4
Even though the Second World War was life changing time there was one positive outcome, the aircraft technology which then led to the growth of a viable profitable industry in Britain and USA. The extra aircraft from 1945 and onwards, joined with the business flair of entrepreneurs such as Harold Bamberg of Eagle Airways and Freddie Laker, which encouraged the development of holiday travel by air. Comet aircraft were used in the 1950s but it was not until the introduction of the faster and more reliable Boeing 707 jets in 1958 that then began to see the possibility of air travel becoming a reality for the masses of the population. The 1960s saw a rush for the charter and scheduled flights, which then later became combined with accommodation, transfers and courier services to form the overseas package holidays that are now very popular.
Increase in Leisure time and lifestyle changes-
British lifestyles have changed dramatically in the last 50 years. We now have a wide range of time-saving household goods such as dishwashers, washing machines, microwave ovens, DIY goods and garden machinery and various technology gadgets to pass time such as; TVs, computers, xboxs and different video games consoles. Most people enjoy a comfortable living with a reasonable income and sufficient leisure time to enjoy holidays, short breaks and day trips. These include the general ageing of the population with people living longer, fewer couples choosing to marry, higher divorce rates and women postponing motherhood or choosing not to have children at all. These factors have an impact on the travel and tourism industry because life is now easier and quicker to do different types of jobs around the house or taking short trips because of different transports.
Emergence of Thomson holidays and growth of the package holiday industry-
The last few years have seen a revolution in the way we book holidays, flights and other travel products and services. Developments in technology have opened up completely new methods for companies to hand out their travel and tourism products and new ways for customers to buy. No longer is it necessary to visit a travel agency for information, although many people still prefer the more traditional service that agents offer. Some of the most recent technological developments include:
•The internet has transformed the way many people now buy their travel and tourism products and services. Travellers can make their own bookings for flights, car hire, accommodation, travel insurance, etc. on their computer at a time that is convenient for them. Examples of website that may be used to book holidays are Thomson, Thomas Cook, etc.
• Call centres e.g. Thomas Cook and Thomson, operate call centres where large numbers of trained staff provide details of holidays and take bookings from customers.
•Self check-in many airports now allow passengers to check themselves in at kiosks and in a more recent development now online
•The internet has transformed the way many people now buy their travel and tourism products and services. Travellers can make their own bookings for flights, car hire, accommodation, travel insurance, etc. on their computer at a time that is convenient for them. Examples of website that may be used to book holidays are Thomson, Thomas Cook, etc.
• Call centres e.g. Thomas Cook and Thomson, operate call centres where large numbers of trained staff provide details of holidays and take bookings from customers.
•Self check-in many airports now allow passengers to check themselves in at kiosks and in a more recent development now online
High Speed Train network in Europe-
Many countries in Europe have seen their high-speed rail networks develop quickly in recent years, especially France with its TGV services. Britain benefits from the fast Eurostar services between London and the continent, using the high speed one rail link between London and the UK side of the Channel Tunnel. This has had a great effect on the industry as people can travel faster and more comfortable and can also save a lot of money and is more economical as pedestrians use it.
Growth of the budget airlines-
One of the most important developments in the transport sector in recent years has been the introduction of lowcost airlines, helped by the growth in internet use. The low-cost airlines are including easyJet, Ryanair, flybe and bmi baby, offer a cheap service to people looking to travel on a budget. They are able to offer cheap fares by keeping support services to a minimum and selling direct to travellers via the internet and phone. They also use smaller regional airports that charge lower landing fees and the airlines sell ranges of extra products, such as travel insurance, car hire, rail tickets and accommodation on a commission basis. The low-cost carriers are a serious threat to the longer-established ‘full service’ airlines, which are having to cut their prices and alter their services to compete. However different ancillarys arent included within this charge, budget airlines usually just cover the flights, this can have an effect on the industry as people booking with budget airlines may not know they arent covered with a travel insurance.
Package Travel Regulations-
The package travel regulations came into power on January 1st 1993. The main aim of the regulations is to give people buying package holidays, from tour operators more protection and access to compensation when things go wrong, for example when a hotel is overbooked or a coach booked to transfer passengers fails to turn up. The regulations mean that tour operators can no longer claim that problems with a package holiday are outside of their control. The recent travel problems caused by volcanic ash from the Icelandic volcano have highlighted the important benefits to travellers of these regulations. This has had a positive effect on the industry as it is easier to book holidays for people who may not be use to booking online or have the technically skills to use a computer there self.
Air Passenger Duty (APD)-
Air Passenger Duty was introduced by the UK government in 2004 as a way of helping to reduce the growth of air travel and its environmental effects. APD was doubled on February the 2nd 2007 and has proved very debatable, since many people consider that it is more concerned with increasing tax revenues for the government than actually influencing people’s air travel habits.
Introduction of the Euro currency-
The euro was launched on January 1st 1999, when it became the currency of more than 300 million people in Europe. For the first three years it was an invisible currency, only used for accounting purposes, for example in electronic payments. Euro cash was not introduced until January 1st 2002, when it replaced, at fixed conversion rates, the banknotes and coins of the national currencies like the Belgian franc and the Deutsche Mark. The euro has helped travelling within Europe easier as a traveller, they can use the same currency throughout the Eurozone. Also the Euro is a currency the a lot of people can understand the value of.
Opening of Channel Tunnel-
On the 6th of May 1994 the channel tunnel Official opened by Queen Elizabeth II and French President François Mitterrand. The 25thof July the commercial Eurotunnel truck shuttle service started and the start of the Eurostar service started through the Channel Tunnel on the 14thof November. Then finally of the 22nd of December passengers could travel with their cars. The Channel Tunnel is a fast way of travelling from England to France and on into Europe. Tourist enjoy travelling through the Channel Tunnel as they can bring their cars were they can sit comfortably whilst they travel. It is quicker than a ferry and good for people who don’t enjoy flying. Its convenient for family’s who want to take a lot of luggage and for people to bring back large amounts of souvenirs/gifts whereas flying you can be limited.
Merger of Thomson Holidays and First Choice-
Thomson and First Choice merged in 2007 and TUI UK currently has 505 Thomson stores and 215 First Choice Stores. German travel group TUI, owner of Thomson, is to merge its tourism operations with UK rival First Choice Holidays, in a deal that will create a new force in the European travel industry. The company TUI Travel, will have annual revenues of more than £12bn and 27m customers. It will operate in 20 countries, serving more than 200 destinations. The new company will be 51% owned by TUI and 49% by First Choice shareholders.