Preliminary June results of Novaturas: growing early bookings for winter season
July 15 2024 - 1:55AM
UK Regulatory
Preliminary June results of Novaturas: growing early bookings for
winter season
Novaturas Group, the leader in the Baltic tourism market,
generated revenues of EUR 21,6 mln. in June, compared to EUR 22
mln. during the same period last year. The number of customers
served was 28,8 thsnd., compared to 30,5 thsnd. in June last
year.
In total, between January and June 2024, the company recorded
revenues* of EUR 86,8 mln. and 112 thsnd. customers, compared to
revenues of EUR 102,5 mln. and 124 thsnd. customers in the
corresponding period in 2023.
Continued diversification into summer destinations with higher
margins than Turkey has resulted in the growing demand observed in
Spanish resorts and Greek islands. In addition, with the launch of
the 2024–2025 winter holiday programme in early June, Novaturas is
seeing a more active interest in these early bookings than last
year.
“In the first month after the launch of the winter destinations,
our customers group-wide have purchased more trips than last year.
Given that we started winter sales in 2023 five weeks earlier than
this year, this translates into higher demand and an increasing
trend for travellers to plan their holidays and trips in advance.
Even with a significantly shorter sale period, winter bookings in
Lithuania and Latvia are almost 30% ahead of last year’s figures.
Meanwhile, we are observing a slowdown in Estonia, and one of the
reasons is related with the weaker macroeconomic sentiment in this
market” says Kristijonas Kaikaris, CEO of Novaturas.
The growth in demand for winter travel in June was driven by ski
trips, which were also influenced by group bookings, which
Novaturas organises for both individuals and sells to commercial
customers and partners. In addition, interest in holidays to
long-haul exotic destinations also grew (+16%). This year, 8 out of
11 long-haul destinations have higher sales than last year, with
Vietnam, Thailand, Bali, Tanzania and Mexico showing the highest
growth.
In recreational destinations, Egypt remains stable with 53% of
winter early-bookers choosing this destination for their holidays,
which is an increase of around 10% compared to last year. Customers
will also find more opportunities and more flexible travel options
in the United Arab Emirates, where Novaturas has increased its
offering for the next winter season and is running additional sales
promotions.
As part of the launch of the full next winter programme in June,
Novaturas also organised events to introduce a new destination, the
Spanish island of Gran Canaria, to agency representatives in
Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. Events were organised in cooperation
with Gran Canaria Tourist Board. For the convenience of travellers,
Novaturas will organise flights from Vilnius to Gran Canaria with
AirBaltic on Saturday mornings from autumn until spring.
It should be reminded that next winter Novaturas offers Lithuanian
travellers a total of 21 different destinations in 18 countries,
Latvian travellers are offered 20 destinations in 17 countries, and
Estonian travellers can choose from 17 destinations in 14
countries. The company offers its customers a wide range of exotic
trips, ski resorts in France, Austria and Italy, a variety of
sightseeing tour options, as well as the most popular resorts in
Egypt, Madeira and Tenerife.
After launching the new eSIM mobile internet service to customers
in Lithuania in May, Novaturas already offered it to travellers in
Latvia and Estonia in June. The company is the first tour operator
in the Baltic States to offer this service. It is available in all
destinations offered by Novaturas and is most relevant when
travelling outside the EU.
Also in June, Novaturas announced that it is terminating its
contract with Beta Travel, taking over its customers’ bookings and
thus ensuring that all their planned trips take place. In making
the announcement, the company made clear its position that it
always strives for the trust and well-being of its customers, while
clarifying to investors that its cooperation with Beta Travel
represented only a very small share of the total sales of
Novaturas. The company will not incur any significant material loss
or loss affecting its financial results as a result of the bookings
taken over.
*ADJUSTMENT: the Company is adjusting its May 2024 revenue
results, which were announced in June, to reflect that
Novaturas generated revenues of EUR 14,1 mln. in May (in
June it was announced that Novaturas generated revenues of EUR 17,3
mln. in May).
About the company
Novaturas Group is the largest and the only charter flights‘ local
tour operator in the Baltic States, offering summer and winter
trips to more than 30 destinations worldwide and more than 100
tours. Based on audited data, in 2023 Novaturas Group recorded
revenues of EUR 208,3 million and served 259 000 passengers in
Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.
CFO
Vaidrius Verikas
+370 646 43758