Leading Scottish travel agency Barrhead Travel has launched a dedicated escorted tours and adventure holidays brochure.
The firm said the move came in response to increased demand from customers.
Barrhead last week scooped the best high street agency for Scotland and Northern Ireland award at The Association of Touring & Adventure Suppliers (ATAS) conference.
The Glasgow-based agency said bookings in the sector have steadily increased and are up 20% this year compared with 2017.
It added destinations performing well for the business include North America, Asia and Canada – all of which feature in their new magazine-style consumer brochure.
The boom in touring bookings is part of the shift in holiday trends away from traditional ‘bucket and spade’ style packages towards more authentic, experiential and active getaways, Barrhead said.
Trade association Abta has reported that the increase in people looking for more authentic experiences has resulted in niche trends becoming in demand and more accessible.
Jacqueline Dobson, managing director of Barrhead Travel, said: “Launching our first own-branded touring brochure is a milestone for us as we continue to grow our adventure and touring clientele.
“We have found that our growth in this sector is down to several specific customer profiles, one being Millennials who value experiences in alternative destinations made possible and affordable from touring and adventure holidays.
“Another is the rise in solo travellers. While there are still many single travellers looking to share experiences with like-minded companions, there has also been a rise in individuals leaving a partner or friends at home to find their own sense of adventure in a group tour.”
As the movement towards unique, local experiences continues to build momentum, Barrhead Travel has seen a shift in tour operator’s offerings.
Dobson added: “Tour operators are also responding to recent trends by offering superior levels of comfort, more inclusions in the price, greater access to more remote locations and higher flexibility within the tour.
“On top of this our team has the ability to customise the experience further such as turning a stop-over into an additional city break, adding extra nights in preferred locations and providing added dimensions to the trip such as motor-homes and excursions.”
Barrhead Travel’s new touring brochure will be racked across their network of 74 stores throughout the UK with plans in place to add additional marketing resources to the sector in 2019.