Holidays – where will we be going this year?

Thousands of people will flock to the Holiday World Show  in search of inspiration, deals, special offers and a chance to win trips.  New exhibiting countries this year will include Barbados, Chile, Lithuania and Czech Republic.

Expected increases in disposable income have encouraged visits to the show by many far away destinations.  Long the favourite of the flush, the Caribbean countries of Barbados, Antigua and Barbuda, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Jamaica and Mexico will be encouraging visits from Ireland.  Jamaica and Mexico will see an increase in Irish visitors this summer with flights direct from Dublin to Montego Bay and Cancun with Falcon Holidays.

Despite the strong dollar the United States will be taking a large pavilion at the show with representatives coming from popular places like New York, Boston, Chicago and California and also the Deep South, the Carolinas, New England, Las Vegas, Alabama, Kansas, Mississippi, Texas, and New Orleans.

The surge in Irish people living and working in Canada means a standalone pavilion for the country this year.  With a new flight to Vancouver beginning this summer, there will be five Canadian routes from Ireland, Toronto, Montreal, St. Johns Newfoundland and Halifax Nova Scotia.  Tourism bodies from Ontario, Labrador, Newfoundland, Quebec and Nova Scotia will be there. The wish list Rocky Mountaineer and Canadian ViaRail will also be telling the story of rail travel in Canada.

Spain, the most popular holiday destination from Ireland with more than 1.4 million visits last year will have the largest exhibition at the show.  Eighteen regions of Spain will be showing the highlights for visitors.  New routes this year include Vigo and Murcia from Dublin, Menorca and Madrid from Cork and Costa Dorada from Ireland West.

Portugal, climbing up the popularity ranks, and now third most visited holiday destination from Ireland, will have their biggest stand ever with many hotels and resorts from the Algarve attending.  Family holidays in France will be well represented by many camp and mobile home sites.

Exotic destinations for honeymoons, adventure and bucket lists will include the Seychelles, Zambia, Botswana, China, Taiwan, Cuba, Chile and Brazil.  Safari Expert Andre Migliarina will be on hand to talk animals in the wild.

The major cruise companies will also have stands, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, MSC Cruises, Carnival, Fred Olsen, Cunard, Riviera river cruising and more.  There will be special incentives at the show to make bookings such as half price second passenger, and free drinks packages.

The recent growth in escorted tour companies provides opportunities to travel the world with a group. Insight Vacations will be giving €150 discounts at the show and the Travel Department will be marking 20 years in business with new destinations.  John Galligan Travel will be taking bookings for a four-star escorted trip to Cuba in April and Wendy Wu Tours to China will have €100 discounts on trips.

Expect to meet Cornwall, Wiltshire and South Western England at the show. If you like the great outdoors, there will be a big selection of camping equipment, caravans and motor homes on view.

The home holiday market will have stands from almost every county in Ireland and dozens of hotels.  Traditionally at the show the home holidays section always offers big discounts on breaks in Ireland, especially for the over 55s. Northern Ireland tourism will be showcasing the NI Year of Food and Drink with tempting treats for visitors. The Holiday World show opens from 1pm on Friday and from 11am to 5.30pm on Saturday and Sunday.