Abstract
British holidaymakers took an estimated 443,000 boating holidays in 2006, with the market value estimated at £171 million. Since 2002 the overall market has grown 11% in volume terms and 18% in value terms, reflecting a growing proportion of premium priced holidays at the top end.
But boating is a market of two halves. Growth is being driven by the strong performance of overseas inland waterway and sailing holidays, whilst volume levels in the domestic inland waterways sector are in long-term decline.
Table of Contents
- Issues in the Market
- Main issues
- Definitions
- Abbreviations
- Market in Brief
- Market of two halves
- Overseas expansion
- Trouble on the tow path
- Big two go boating
- Positive population trends
- Cordon canal bleu
- Gung ho!
- Leaner, fitter future
- Internal Market Environment
- Key Points
- Overseas expansion
- Figure 1: Domestic and overseas holidays volume, 2002-07
- Indulgent travellers
- Figure 2: Domestic and overseas holidays expenditure, 2002-07
- Figure 3: Average spend per trip, 2002-07
- The portfolio traveller
- Figure 4: Percentage of adults booking UK and overseas holidays, 2002-06
- Floating timeshare
- Figure 5: Ownership of sailing/power boats, 2002-06
- Boating stats remain anchored
- Figure 6: Participation in sailing/motor boating, 2004-06
- Figure 7: Sailing club membership, 2002-06
- Figure 8: Watersports and leisure participation report 2006: Selected activities
- Boys and their toys
- Home and away
- Waterways investment
- Stormy waters
- Red diesel
- Nature deficit disorder
- Nature and tourism
- Go slow
- Binge travel
- Broader Market Environment
- Key Points
- Figure 9: Trends in personal disposable income and consumer expenditure, 2002-12
- Climate of caution
- Britain is away on holiday
- Figure 10: UK spending priorities, January 2007
- Boating boomers
- Figure 11: Trends in the age structure of the UK population, by gender, 2002-12
- (A)rchteypal (B)oating (C)ustomers
- Figure 12: Forecast adult population trends, by socio-economic group, 2002-12
- Broadband Britain
- Figure 13: Internet penetration, by gender, socio-economic group and age, 2002-06
- Competitive Context
- Key Points
- Figure 14: Activity holidays, 2002-6
- Holidaymakers get active
- Self-catering land vs water
- Cruise control
- Strengths and Weaknesses in the Market
- Strengths
- Weaknesses
- Market Size and Segmentation
- Key Points
- Past and present: market cruises ahead
- Figure 15: Boating & sailing holidays domestic and overseas, Volume and value at current and constant prices, 2002-2012
- Figure 16: Boating holiday taken for last/last but one holiday, 2002-06
- Reasons for growth: overseas expansion
- Segmentation
- UK domestic inland waterways: a declining force
- Figure 17: Number of hire boat licences on UK inland waterways 1997/98-2005/06
- Figure 18: Domestic inland waterways holidays, estimated volume and value, 2002-07
- Boatyards sold off
- Green hopes?
- Narrowboats catch up Broads
- Figure 19: Estimated segmentation of the domestic inland waterways hire boat holiday market, by region, 2006
- Overseas inland waterways holidays: the Rick Stein factor
- Overseas sailing holidays: mainly in the Med
- UK domestic sailing holidays: experience preferred
- The future
- Glory days over
- Iconic appeal
- Venturing further
- Beachclubs boost sailing
- The forecast
- Factors used in the forecast
- Companies and Products
- Key Points
- Inland waterways structure
- Blakes
- Boating Holidays Limited
- First Choice Waterways
- France Afloat
- Hoseasons
- Sailing holidays structure
- Mark Warner
- Nielson
- Sailing Holidays Limited
- Sunsail
- Boating Holiday Experience and Future Potential
- Key Points
- Experience of boating holidays
- Figure 20: Experience of boating holidays, May 2007
- Pool of potentials
- Experience of boating holidays by demographics
- Figure 21: Experience of boating holidays by demographics, May 2007
- Ageing boaters
- Well heeled sailors
- Untapped younger demand
- Figure 22: Further experience of boating holidays by demographics, May 2007
- The Key to a Perfect Boating Holiday?
- Key Points
- Figure 23: Ingredients for happy holidays, May 2007
- Boating and holiday ingredients
- Figure 24: Ingredients for happy holidays by experience of boating holidays, May 2007
- Cordon bleu boating
- Soul of a region
- Sporting chance
