Experts Analyze Sales Dynamics For The May Holidays

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   Travel industry experts interviewed by a BANKO correspondent on March 21st and 22nd do not rush into making forecasts for May Holidays sales. At the moment tour operators already sell tours for the beginning of May; however they can not make conclusions on the basis of current sales dynamics.
   For example, Sergey Prigolovkin, CEO of PAKS Travel Company, pointed out that despite the fact that tourists started to book for May in the middle of March, he doubts the success of May Holidays sales: ‘fewer days off in May affected peoples’ plans for the beginning of May’. Dmitry Shevchenko, General Director of ICS Travel Group, also doubts the increase in demand referring to the same factor.
    Meanwhile, Alexander Tsandekidi, General Director of Mouzenidis Travel, thinks that the demand for the Greek destination in May 2006 will not differ from previous years: ‘we are quite optimistic towards the increase in May sales’. Mikhail Musinyants, General Director of Erzog travel Company, is also inclined to optimistic forecasts: ‘I think the demand will be higher. For example, last year when Russia celebrated the 60th Victory Day, many potential clients preferred to stay in Russia. And this year nothing will prevent them from traveling’.
   Having analyzed the preferences of Russian tourists for May Holidays, experts pointed out the following tendencies. For example, Tatiana Chuvilkina, General Director Deputy in PR of Natalie Tours, outlines the interest in the so called winter destinations – the UAE and Egypt. Besides, experts noticed earlier sales of expensive tours as the tendency of the whole Russian market. Thus, Sergey Ovchinnikov, Sales Director of Space Travel, made an example: ‘in the UAE Madinat Hotels are being booked already, while less expensive tour will be in demand after the exhibition when operators will put on offer tours at discounted prices’.