First Choice Launch a Save Santa Appeal!

LONDON, December 8, 2011 -

-Independent research carried out by First Choice reveals yet another victim of the global economic crisis: Santa needs your help-

A new infographic released by First Choice, home of all-inclusive, investigates the impact of the recession on the man at the heart of Christmas. Research conducted by the company reveals that Santa has been struggling to keep up with demand this year and is battling to come to terms with the soaring cost of Christmas presents.  

To help Santa out First Choice has launched an appeal on its blog asking customers to come up with a contingency plan to Save Santa! To help get those thinking caps on, customers who come up the best ideas could win an iPad 2.

According to calculations by the travel company, Santa has one of the highest debts in the world, just behind the United States. First Choice calculated that, in just one year, Santa accumulated a debt of nearly three and a half trillion pounds. This figure was based on a recent Gallup poll which showed that on average Americans plan on spending the equivalent of £486 on Christmas presents this year. If Santa spent that amount on everyone, the jolly fellow would rack up a huge debt as he purchases gifts for people around the globe.

The infographic, which has been published on First Choice’s blog, explores the figures and investigates where it all went wrong. The cost of Christmas presents has soared in recent years and one of the most popular gifts this year, the iPad 2, will set you back at least £399. When you compare this with popular presents in the 1920s, such as a teddy bear, which would have cost you as little as 50p in today’s currency, you can see how Santa got in such a mess.

Nathan Timmins, Head of Online Marketing for First Choice, comments: “Our research unveiled the real victim of the current economic crisis: Santa Claus. With the growing cost of presents and increased spending at this time of year it is no surprise that he is finding it difficult financially.

“When the findings were revealed we decided we needed to do something to help Santa out, especially with Christmas just around the corner. So we are offering the ultimate Christmas present, an iPad 2, to whoever comes up with the best solution to Santa Claus’s predicament. We are hoping that by opening up this problem to the floor we can find a way for Santa to relieve his financial burden.”

Santa refused to comment on his situation, but welcomed any financial advice.

The infographic and details of the competition can be found at: blog.firstchoice.co.uk/the-santa-bailout. Contestants can enter the competition by commenting on the First Choice blog or on any other blog which features the infographic.

About First Choice:

First Choice (www.firstchoice.co.uk) is a trading name of TUI UK Ltd, part of the TUI Travel PLC Group of companies - the UK’s leading leisure travel company. First Choice specialises in all inclusive holidays, beach holidays and last minute deals to a range of destinations.

First Choice is registered with the Association of British Travel Agent (ABTA), fully bonded by the Civil Aviation Authority under Air Travel Organisers’ Licence (ATOL) and part of the Federation of Tour Operators.

Notes to Editors:

To embed the infographic online please use the code featured on the First Choice blog: blog.firstchoice.co.uk/the-santa-bailout.

All public debt figures were taken from The Economist’s Global Debt Clock and converted on the 1^st of December 2011 using XE.

Press Contact: First Choice Press Office, Marc Heley, +44(0)1582-648-628, marc.heley at tui-uk.co.uk