Spain is most popular destination
Monday 22nd March 2010
With over 1.5 million owners across Europe, Timeshare is a big business with service and quality at the forefront. In a recent study of Timeshare by The Christel DeHaan Tourism and Travel Research Institute in Nottingham, 87% of owners stated they are happy with their Timeshare holidays.
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| European Timeshare |
Almost 75% believe their Timeshare accommodation is better than what's on offer in self-catering holidays, with most indicating that the quality of the accommodation is the most important aspect for them.
The study shows that Timeshare remains a thriving industry with a very positive influence in local areas across Europe. The industry employs nearly 70,000 people in 1,312 resorts, generating €3.2 billion in expenditure every year.
The occupancy levels are high throughout the year (estimated to be 72%) representing 67 million bed nights. Owners spend an average of €1,588 per trip in the local communities, particularly in restaurants, car rentals, groceries, souvenirs and clothes.
The average Timeshare owner is 55 years old with an income of €60,475, proving that Timeshare is for the masses rather than the higher income earners. Whilst British and Irish make up the majority of owners, the Germans, Italians, Spanish and French also love Timeshare.
Spain, enjoying an all year round temperate climate in many of its regions, is the most popular destination with over 340 resorts representing 26% of all European resorts. Maybe surprisingly, UK and Ireland follow Italy (15%) with 11% of European Timeshare resorts.
Whilst you may think of Timeshare as an exotic place in the sun, around one third of owners buy at a resort in their own country.
RDO Chairman Richard McIntosh responded to the survey by saying "Timeshare is a concept that has truly come of age with many thousands of happy owners across Europe. The quality of timeshare resorts is high which is why many owners see it as superior to other self catering holidays. With exchange options available, owners also enjoy the flexibility of being able to try out resorts across Europe and the rest of the world."
The report shows clearly that Timeshare has a very positive impact on local economies, said McIntosh, as Timeshare is a year-round industry where owners visit in winter as well as summer, whilst package holiday tourists are often concentrated in a couple of short summer months.
