The airport experience has been criticised by both holidaymakers and senior travel and tourism industry executives, research from leading travel industry exhibition World Travel Market reveals.
A poll of 1,030 holidaymakers – all of whom took a summer holiday in 2009 – reveals 31% feel the airport experience has got worse.
Further research of 457 senior travel industry executives from WTM’s Meridian Club, which is made up of the industry’s most senior buyers, reveals almost half (49%) agreed holidaymakers’ experience at airports has deteriorated.
Gatwick Airport’s new owners – Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP) – appear to be listening to the concerns of holidaymakers and the travel and tourism industry. On taking control of the London airport from BAA in a £1.5 billion deal last Friday, GIP pledged to eliminate security and check-in queues and train staff in how to improve the passenger experience.
World Travel Market Chairman Fiona Jeffery said: “The impact of increased security measures has had a negative impact on holidaymakers’ experience at airports.
“The travel and tourism industry, and in particular the airport operators, have a responsibility to improve the airport experience. Holidays start and finish in airports, so a bad experience has the potential to have a negative effect on the whole holiday.”
Further findings reveal domestic holidays are not expected to increase due to environmental concerns according to 49% of holidaymakers and 61% of senior industry executives.
Holidaymakers also feel accommodation (57%) and resorts and facilities (59%) have not improved much over the past 30 years, while 50% of holidaymakers also said the price of holidays hadn’t improved.
