Recent survey results indicate an increase in confidence among Aito members regarding future turnover.
- Over 96% of Aito members expect turnover to increase or remain steady in the upcoming year.
- Supply and demand, along with competition, are highlighted as main challenges by Aito members.
- Tour operators express more concern about demand compared to travel agents, who focus on competition.
- Aito executives remain untroubled by political changes, focusing instead on market trends.
A recent survey showcases a notable rise in confidence among members of The Specialist Travel Association (Aito) regarding future turnover. More than 96% of the members believe that their turnover will either increase or remain constant over the next 12 months. This confidence level is the second-highest recorded since 2022, reflecting a significant shift from previous concerns related to operational obstacles.
Crucially, the survey highlights a shift in the main challenges perceived by Aito members. While operational issues dominated earlier assessments, supply and demand, alongside competition, now occupy the forefront of potential challenges. Specifically, 54% of the respondents identify supply and demand as pivotal factors affecting their business, closely followed by competition, which was noted by 48%.
The survey reveals a divergence in concerns between tour operators and travel agents. Tour operators appear significantly more concerned about future demand, with 58.1% citing it as their foremost challenge. In contrast, competition appears to be the predominant concern for travel agents, as indicated by 53.5% of the respondents. Interestingly, only 36.4% of travel agents considered demand as their main challenge, illustrating a contrast in focus between the two groups.
Furthermore, despite the recent governmental changes, over 70% of Aito members stated they remain untroubled by potential impacts on government support for small and medium-sized travel enterprises. This suggests a steadfast resilience and determination to navigate market dynamics without substantial concern over political shifts.
Roy Barker, director of Spike Insight, which collaborated on the survey, notes an improvement in confidence levels, notwithstanding the challenging nature of the market. He observes that while the market toughens, there is no substantial decline foreseen. Instead, members anticipate stability over the next 12 months, with attention focused more acutely on market dynamics rather than operational issues.
Aito’s growing confidence signals an optimistic outlook for the upcoming year, despite competitive challenges and market demands.
