Exclusive: 100-year-old luxury travel company Kuoni offers UK holidays for the first time
Kuoni, founded more than a century ago, has turned its attention to the UK amid travel restrictions
Luxury, long-haul tour operator Kuoni is adding UK and Ireland breaks to its roster for the first time in its history to cater for a surge in demand for domestic holidays this year and next.
As international travel restrictions look set to remain in place until late June at the earliest, the travel firm is looking to capitalise on a renewed interest in holidays closer to home, swapping island hopping in the Indian Ocean for trips to Scotland, England, Wales and the island of Ireland.
Itineraries on offer from this week include Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way, the Gower Peninsula in Wales and rural Northumberland.
Derek Jones, chief executive of Kuoni, which was founded in Switzerland in 1906, said: “We’re famed for planning special trips to beautiful places around the world but we think there are many equally stunning places to discover closer to home as well.
“The coronavirus crisis has played havoc with people’s travel plans so we wanted to create a collection of quality, premium trips throughout the UK and Ireland which blend local culture, adventure and exploration with luxury style.
“This is about working with like-minded specialists with similar values, and introducing more reasons for people to trust us with their special travel plans so we can broaden the scope of what we can offer.”
The operator has teamed up with UK specialist McKinlay Kidd to help develop the trips. Co-founder Heather McKinlay said the white-sand beaches of the Outer Hebrides can give a good impression of the Caribbean. “Lots of people know Kuoni for their beautiful beach escapes and we want to surprise people about what’s on their doorstep,” she said.
The UK and Ireland holidays will go live on Kuoni’s website on Friday.
Kuoni is not alone in turning its focus to the UK as the world recovers from the coronavirus. This week small group specialist Jules Verne announced the addition of four new UK and Ireland itineraries to its books, including an eight-night cruise of the British Isles.
Managing director Francis Torrilla said: “Jules Verne is responding to feedback from our clients, some of whom have already travelled domestically with us before and are keen to do so again, whilst others have expressed a preference to stay closer to home when discussing their travel plans with us for next year.”
The Government says its two-week quarantine period for all international arrivals including returning Britons will be in force for at least three weeks from June 8. The Foreign Office is still advising against all but essential travel outside of the UK.
Accordingly, tourism companies in the UK are hoping Britons might look to their own shores for a trip this summer as lockdown restrictions are eased.
