Retirees are flocking to far-off former backpacker hangouts

THE over-55s are fuelling a boom in travel to far-off destinations more usually linked with students and backpackers, says travel agent Trailfinders.

Managing director Tony Russell said retirees were eschewing traditional destinations and jetting to places such as Vietnam, Cambodia and Burma.

‘It’s a huge part of our market now,’ Russell said. ‘People used to think of us as just for students, but those days are long gone. It’s the older generation who are really fuelling the boom in long-haul travel.’

Russell said Trailfinders’ latest results, in which turnover grew from £531million to £566million in the year to February 28, 2014, as ‘excellent’. Profits jumped from £19.3million to £30million.

Russell added: ‘Judging by the first four months of the current financial year we’re on track to for another record this year.’

He put the performance down to increased levels of customer care at its call centres and 27 high street stores, and said while it had to be competitive on price, Trailfinders’ focus was on helping people plan complex itineraries.

‘The more complex a trip, the less effective the web becomes,’ he said. ‘We took the decision years ago not to sell online and everything since then tells us that was right.’

Popular areas include South America, Indochina and Burma, as well as flydrive holidays in the US.

Owner Mike Gooley, who set up Trailfinders in 1970, received £2.5million in dividends.