Boating holiday bookings soar 25% to record levels
Sailing holidays have become increasingly popular among in recent years, with a new record set this summer.
Bookings for boat holidays are up 25 per cent this summer in the UK compared to last year, according to figures released by boat holiday platform Zizoo. The platform confirms that “most ships are already booked out” for September and October 2022.
The pandemic caused a shift in behaviour that spurred growth in the boat rental market over the last two years, as people sought out socially distanced alternatives to traditional holidays. Statistics from Future Market Insights indicate the global market will this year grow to over US$17 billion, far exceeding the cruise ship market, which is worth US$7.25 billion.
But the trend has caught on, and shows no signs of slowing down post-pandemic. By 2031, the yacht charter market is expected to exceed US$28 billion at a CAGR of 5.3 per cent, with Europe taking the lion’s share at 31.9 per cent.
Rising fuel costs mean that some charter holiday expenses now cost as much as the charter itself, according to competing boat charter platform Borrow a Boat. Despite this, demand remains strong, with Borrow a Boat CEO Matt Ovenden recently predicting the firm’s revenue will double in 2023.
Meanwhile, bespoke yacht charter broker Helm — part of the Borrow a Boat Group — reports a 975 per cent increase in bookings from the US in 2022, and says it expects the trend to continue in 2023.
Berlin-based Zizoo offers 44,000 boats for rent in 30 countries. It has released data showing that more holidaymakers are choosing to hire a boat together with a skipper, who knows the local waters intimately and can charter a vessel to lesser-known hidden gems.
The top destinations in 2022 for Brits on boats are reported to be Croatia and Greece, with 34 per cent of holidaymakers sailing in this area of the Mediterranean — Spain came a close third.
Reports also show that the average time at sea this year was five days, with a growing segment opting for week-long holidays. The boat of choice was the catamaran.
One of the benefits of a sailing holiday is the freedom to explore a new place every day, and to get away from the hustle and bustle of tourist traps, says Anna Banicevic, Zizoo’s CEO and co-founder. “These advantages have spurred a wave of first-time bookers, along with post-pandemic behavioural changes and easy bookings, thanks to the digitalisation of the industry,” she says.
Earlier this year, MIN reported that Zizoo had secured US$7.5 million in growth funding from Liquidity Group, a global capital market credit automation company and fund manager.
