X Factor Holiday, we seem to be a nation obsessed with celebrity and the rise of reality TV shows, glossy magazines and social media showing us how to dress and where to go to be noticed, seems to be feeding this obsession.
Television plays a huge role with programs such as the X Factor giving us an insight into the destinations where the rich & famous travel and, according to statistics from a leading online travel company, searches were significantly increased after the shows came to air, particularly searches for holidays to Mykonos in Greece, which is where Tulisa Contostavlos held the final auditions for the groups category. Searches for the other locations of the judge’s houses also increased following the shows.
Mykonos 47%
Barcelona 39%
Miami 31%
Los Angeles 22%
What is it then that appeals to us, is it seeing the actual location rather than a brochure image, or is it the endorsement from our favourite celebrity?
TV travel shows have come a long way since Wish You Were Here with Judith Chalmers in the 70’s and we are seeing many different styles of programmes promoting holiday destinations using celebrities.
Another recent show brought Phill Spencer and Kirstie Allsopp from Location, Location, Location fame together again with Vacation, Vacation, Vacation, a travel show that attempted to demonstrate luxury versus budget for the same destinations and using their onscreen relationship to sell us their ideas.
Also currently airing is Paul Merton’s Adventures. This Channel 5 show aims to explore the types of holidays that we Brits supposedly love, from Scotland to the Sunshine State and from Balearic hedonisim to Alpine tranquillity. The first show ‘On a Cruise’ has Merton on the worlds largest luxury liner Royal Caribbean International’s ‘Allure of the Seas’ taking a tour of the Caribbean. The second show ‘In Ibiza’ looks at the two sides of Ibiza with Merton looking at the hedonistic club culture with DJ Guru Josh and, with the help from a six foot Columbian transsexual, transforms himself into a new persona, Elastica, a cross between Mae West and Diana Dors! Ibiza’s reputation for orgies and dancing can apparently be traced back to before Roman times.
But if it’s culture you’re interested in then maybe Joanna Lumley’s new travelogue for ITV1, in which she recalls Greece’s shining glory in her series Joanna Lumley’s Greek Odyssey, is more your bag. From Corfu’s “Kensington on Sea” to the Greek border with Turkey, Lumley explores the effect of invasions from east and west, and the influences still apparent today.
The travel industry has changed dramatically in the last 30 years, with more and more consumers making initial enquires using an online search facility rather than picking up a brochure from the high street travel agency. TV travel shows use celebrities to inspire our travel choices, show us destinations we would perhaps not otherwise have considered or show us an alternative view.
So, Mykonos or Miami – what would be your ‘X Factor Holiday’ destination?
For your ‘X Factor Holiday’ contact The Travel Professionals! [email protected]
