This month, the holiday allowance will be transferred to most Dutch people in paid employment. A poll by TUI already showed that many had the intention to actually spend it on vacation and not on a new fridge, TV, saving or paying off debts. That intention is being translated into actual bookings for the summer, as it turns out. That’s what TUI says. Luc Lentjes, Director Flight Capacity Management & Trading at TUI Benelux: “After a flying start to the summer season, we have recently seen some hesitation among customers who have not yet booked a summer holiday. But receiving the holiday pay, coupled with the persistently bad weather here, has given a new boost to summer holiday bookings and we are now seeing a rise of over 25% in bookings over the past week. We expect this trend to continue and translate into bookings in this early, last-minute period.” Poll The poll, conducted among almost 1,000 Dutch people, shows that 57% of respondents plan to use their holiday allowance to book a trip. And 23% put their holiday pay aside to save. In addition, 9% do not yet know how they will spend their holiday allowance and 11% indicate that they will not receive holiday pay. According to TUI, these results highlight the importance of holidays for Dutch consumers, even at a time when there is competition from other spending options. Summer holidays take on urgency due to competition from foreign holiday demand Travellers from Germany, Belgium and the United Kingdom are no longer waiting to book their holidays. The last-minute bookings are also very much an issue there. The popularity of top destinations is increasing rapidly, there is a real risk that the favourite destinations of Dutch holidaymakers will soon no longer be widely available. With the summer holidays just around the corner, it’s crucial to act fast and reserve your preferred destination and accommodation before it’s no longer available. Turkey The high summer bookings for Turkey started a little later at TUI, which is why this versatile holiday destination still offers plenty of opportunities at the moment. ‘The beautiful coastline offers well-known and beloved holiday resorts in the region of Antalya, as well as Dalaman and Izmir. In addition, the favourable exchange rate ensures that holidaymakers get more value for their money, which is an attractive factor for those who want to make the most of their holiday pay. Of course, there is also supply in the major holiday countries Spain and Greece at the moment, but that is quickly booked full, now that last-minute bookings are picking up steam in the Northern European countries,” the travel organization said.
