The travel industry reports that sales of all-inclusive package holidays have increased by nearly 50 percent. “Tighter personal finances are making more people want a fixed-price holiday,” says Hans Christian Birkeland of restplass.no.
Food prices have risen by 12 percent over the past year. The central bank interest rate will likely exceed 3 percent during the winter. Electricity spot prices may multiply over the coming months.
This is clearly affecting how Norwegians plan their next holiday abroad. They want a clearer holiday budget and better control over expenses.
- People still want to travel, both this winter and next summer, but times are uncertain. Money disappears quickly when buying food and drinks for both adults and children. More and more people are looking for predictability, and what is more predictable than a fixed-price package? We are seeing a major increase in all-inclusive holidays now,” says Birkeland.
According to a restplass.no analysis of Norwegian holiday bookings, the number of all-inclusive trips has increased by 49 percent. More than one in five holidays currently being booked includes food and drinks.
- During the winter, Egypt and Gran Canaria are the most popular destinations for those wanting everything included. For summer, the trend points towards Crete, Turkey, Rhodes, and Mallorca,” says Birkeland.
In recent months, tour operators have intensified their focus on holidays with food and drinks included. The selection of all-inclusive hotels is increasing across many destinations.
- This autumn, we have seen a clear increase in demand for hotels offering all-inclusive,” says Nora Aspengren, Head of Communications at TUI, Norway’s largest provider of this type of holiday.
She explains that all-inclusive holidays are very different today compared to the past.
- Some people probably still associate all-inclusive with poor buffet food and low-quality drinks, but today you can find all-inclusive offerings that truly include everything – and at a very high standard. Buffets are now usually extensive, allergy-friendly, and adapted to Nordic eating habits. Several of our hotels also offer children’s buffets, unlimited ice cream bars, and à la carte restaurants as part of the package,” she says.
Aspengren also points out that all-inclusive holidays are both financially predictable and highly practical, especially for families with children.
- Personally, I think it’s very comfortable to have everything included. Everything is available all the time, and we don’t have to plan where to eat every meal every day. Of course, we still visit local restaurants, but we avoid the stress of constantly planning,” she says.
Birkeland explains that holiday prices move both up and down, and that those who start planning early can often make a very good deal.
- On restplass.no, we can see prices fluctuating, especially for next summer’s holidays. There is money to save if you follow prices across destinations and remain a bit flexible. At the same time, you shouldn’t wait too long to book the most popular all-inclusive hotels. They are already starting to fill up,” he says.
