When considering financial influences you need to understand that tourists need to consider the actual costing of the chosen holiday or visit. Tourists think about whether the destination has a reputation of being a cheap place to visit and stay or if it has a reputation of being expensive? Think along these lines, if a tourist is affluent, an expensive destination may not be an issue but a family of 5 with limited disposable income may have very different thoughts.
Another financial consideration would be to whom the destination appeals, is it a mass-market destination or an upmarket destination? Generally, upmarket destinations attract people who have more disposable income. Mass-market destinations generally attract those who have less flexibility with time and less disposable income, e.g. families who are governed by school holiday times and possibly less disposable income.
Lastly, you will need to think about accommodation; the cost of accommodation in particular, as this is also a financial factor that tourists will consider before making final decisions. Today, there is a wide range of accommodation available and many online booking sites such as Booking.com, Expedia and Travelocity offer a great deal of choice often at very competitive prices. You need to appreciate that many tourists no longer rely on a package holiday from the travel agent but like to shop around to find accommodation to suit their budget. This can range from a B&B to 5* or even 6* luxury hotels.
How much is the holiday going to cost?
The cost of a holiday will play a major part in the final decisions many tourists will make.
Lots of tourists have to think about the cost of the holiday or visit including
- Can I afford to go?
- Will I have enough money to spend when I get there?
- Will the destination be too expensive for me?
- Are there cheaper options available?
Activity
Calculate the cost of the following holidays.
- A package holiday for a family of 4, two adults and two children, flying from Gatwick Airport to Salou, Spain costs £375 per adult and £325 per child
- A flight to Rome, Italy will cost £79 per person return with easyJet. Two people want to travel and they have booked accommodation for 3 nights at a total cost of £325. Calculate the cost of flights and accommodation.
- A group of 12 lads are going to Edinburgh on a stag do. The trains will cost £87pp. Taxis from the train station to the hotel will cost £40 return for 4 people. They are staying at a small hotel in twin rooms which cost £245 per room for the whole stay. They can either book half board or B&B. Half board will cost £75 per person B&B will cost £35 per person. Calculate the total cost of the trip for flights, transfers, and accommodation.
In pairs, discuss which option the lads might choose. Write your choice and explanation to justify your decision below.
Downloadable Content
- Word (.docx): U3-2.1-R2-Financial-factors.docx