An increasing number of people are making the internet there number one tool for booking a holiday, and travellers who are reluctant to book online are still using the internet to plan their holidays and conduct research.
Nielsen/NetRatings carried out research that revealed 17 per cent of people look on the net prior to going on to book via telephone, with only 7 per cent believed to be using high street agencies to research and book their holidays .
These statistics provide clear evidence that the worldwide web is trusted as a more reliable research tool, largely thanks to the amount of impartial information that is available in one place and any given time.
EasyJet have confirmed that 98 per cent of all their seats are now being purchased online . Similarly Thomson Holidays announced figures showing its online bookings are currently three years ahead of its predictions, highlighting how more people are discovering the ease in which holiday bookings can be made through the internet .
Consumers are being encouraged to book through websites thanks to user generated content that helps to bring in millions of unique viewers each day. Reviews written by past guests are one of the most influential sources of holiday planning, with sites such as directline-holidays.co.uk, travelrants.com, and TripAdvisor being recommended for their quality holiday advice and tips.
Directline-holidays.co.uk, which is one of the top 20 holiday sites, is now offering valuable, up-to-date, information on a variety of holiday subjects including popular sights and attractions, user-generated reviews, and weather information .
Matthew Flint, the site’s director said, "Word of mouth has always been an important factor when making any purchase and booking a holiday is no different. Today’s internet equivalent is sites that offer impartial advice ."
"People are now expecting different things from the travel industry and want everything to be available in one place, if it’s not, then they will look elsewhere."
Through anticipating certain industry changes, directline-holidays.co.uk is experiencing their most successful year to date, with double the amount of internet traffic being generated to the site from last year.
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Internet the Preferred Choice for Holiday Research & Bookings Fri, 04 May 2007      Recommended linksYour online travel search facilityTips on searching for a holiday Great deals on weekend trips Search for travel insurance deals Research Reveals Airport Delays Suffered By Average Brit Online Holiday Booking A Real Money Saver |
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