A 37% increase in last-minute bookings for this year’s summer tourist season has been reported by villa accommodation specialist CV Villas, with Corfu and Kefalonia among the most searched holiday destinations on the company’s website in the last 30 days.
These destinations also include the Algarve in Portugal, Apulia in Italy and Mallorca in Spain.
This rise demonstrates that travellers are still choosing to visit European short-haul destinations rather than long-haul destinations, according to the company.
Customers are also asking for more flexibility in length of stay, with the airline now offering five, six and ten day stays for some Greek islands, Croatia, Turkey and the Caribbean.
The top holiday destinations this summer are Croatia, with a 47% increase on last year, Spain, with a 35% increase due to Mallorca and Ibiza, and Portugal, with an 11% increase, mainly due to the Algarve.
Demand is seen for high-end villas, with a 23% increase in the “Above” luxury accommodation range for summer bookings.
Meanwhile, customers with a high financial profile are asking for additional services in their bookings, such as in-villa private chefs, local authentic experiences, and nanny services.
A new service provided by the company in Corfu, Paxos and Lefkada, is boat rental, where there is a 24% increase in bookings.
Wellness and fitness is another trend, with many customers asking for e-bikes as well as sports equipment such as a Pilates Reformer machine, treadmills and bikes, as well as private yoga classes.
“This year has looked unpredictable for the travel sector due to the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, however this has not stopped our customers. We have also noticed that our customers are delaying booking their holidays. Events such as the UK general election. In the UK, the European elections and the Olympic Games have contributed to some consumers putting their holiday plans on hold,” CV Villas CEO Pete Brudenel said.
According to him, the company recently launched a campaign for late travelers this summer, offering discounts of up to 50% in key European destinations, while providing more flexible periods of stay in villas on vacation as more and more consumers take advantage of short-term travel.
