Fleeing in search of fun in the sun

Desperate times call for desperate measures as an increasing number of Kiwis look abroad for their sunshine fix this summer.

Wet and windy weather has been a fixture for the past few weeks and it appears many people have had enough, with holiday bookings notably up on last year.

While many are making reservations for later this year, the weather also appears to have prompted many to seek a sun guarantee for within a few months’ time.

Flight Centre NZ general manager retail Sue Matson said there had been a noticeable surge in bookings, particularly to shorthaul destinations like Brisbane and Tonga.

‘‘People are looking for places that are sunny and close to home that will be nice and easy to get to in the next few months.’’

Matson said the start of the year was always a busy time for travel agents with an array of sale airfares on offer combined with many people suffering from the ‘‘back-to-work blues.’’

House of Travel marketing director Ken Freer said there has been ‘‘a massive uptake in destination inquiry’’ compared to this time last year, with tropical islands top of the list.

‘‘Interest in Rarotonga and Fiji is up around 35 per cent year on year and Bali is up 70 per cent so it’s pretty significant.’’

He said the poor weather was definitely a factor in the increased booking activity with Wellington one place where that has been the case this week.

‘‘There are parts of the country, like Wellington, which have either had bad weather or it’s just been a bit colder than what people would like for their summer holiday.

‘‘People are now coming back to work and they are researching and planning where they want to go to get some warmth.’’

He said that desire combined with the company’s biggest sale of the year has created ‘‘a real surge in interest.’’

Freer said the bulk of people have been booking travel for April and beyond, however, he said there had been an uptake in shortleave time bookings as well.

‘‘That’s people who want to leave now and that has been particularly strong for Queensland and some of the Pacific Islands.

‘‘It’s places they can go that are relatively inexpensive where they are likely to be guaranteed some warmth.’’

Short-haul destinations like Australia and the Pacific Islands are basking in popularity as Kiwis look to escape the cold this summer.