After the long Corona winter full of privation, many people long for a vacation.
The travel agencies that slumbered for months in a slumbering beauty are currently experiencing a mega onslaught.
This is not without consequences.
The prices are already rising.
Fürstenfeldbruck
- Helmut Lang speaks of a "rocket launch".
The elimination of many travel restrictions and the long, wet and cold weather literally exploded the desire to travel abroad, says the owner of the Tui travel center in Groebenzell.
Lang reacted immediately: "I got all employees out of short-time working as quickly as possible," says the 63-year-old.
After the long and quiet winter months, one is still a bit overwhelmed, in a positive sense.
“At the moment there are even waiting times in processing inquiries,” says Lang.
One reason is the longer consultation time that is necessary for travel bookings in Corona times.
Because: "Consultations on hygiene rules or quarantine at the travel destination make discussions with customers more time-consuming," reports Lang.
Actually, things are going well in his travel agency at the beginning of the year.
“January is usually the month with the most bookings,” says Lang.
But in the Corona period, the rush of customers was postponed by almost six months.
Helmut Lang takes it as it comes.
And meanwhile the first trends in travel are already emerging.
Greece, Spain and Portugal are big up and coming travel destinations this year, says the 63-year-old.
But Austria, Croatia and Italy, which can be reached by car, are also popular.
Both trips by car and by plane are booked.
Vacation homes are in great demand
"Customers are hungry for vacation," says Lang.
"You want to enjoy the service and, above all, just get out." And you have the money for the trips together because it has hardly been spent in the past few months.
The subject of money is also not entirely unimportant in this young holiday season.
“The prices are going up sharply,” observes Helmut Lang.
This has mainly to do with the sudden demand.
Bargain hunters would wait here in vain.
"Tomorrow the price can be much more expensive than it is today."
Petra Högenauer from the Türkenfelder travel agency Weltenbummler knows that flex tariffs, i.e. bookings that can be canceled shortly before the start of the journey, are still possible.
"This option is also used by customers."
When it comes to accommodation, houses and holiday apartments are still very popular.
“For many, this is the safer route,” says the travel agent.
The 47-year-old also sees that travel will not be cheap this year.
“Holidays in South Tyrol and Italy are much more expensive than in previous years,” says Petra Högenauer.
“There is no corona bonus.
The Italians are not giving anything away now. "
Many are also in the starting blocks for longer trips, for example to the USA and Canada.
But a trip there is not possible due to the entry restrictions on site.
Patience is required from customers here.
“That will probably take until autumn,” estimates the travel expert.
