We often hear people say:

"Timeshare is dead."
"Nobody wants timeshare anymore – it's a thing of the past."

But if timeshare really were dead, why are new resorts still being built across the world? Why are new holiday clubs being launched, while established resorts continue to attract new owners?

Why are industry reports showing rising timeshare values and increasing sales at resort presentations? And why have European resale agencies seen growing numbers of enquiries from people looking to buy timeshares?

The truth is that there was a period when timeshare did lose some of its appeal.

That period was largely during the 2000s.

Cheap holiday rentals became widely available, banks were offering generous mortgages for overseas property—often with little or no deposit—and many people thought:

"Why buy a timeshare when I can own my own apartment abroad?"

But the market has changed dramatically since then.

Following financial crises, tighter regulations on holiday rentals and the sharp rise in property prices, owning a second home abroad has become far more expensive and far less straightforward.

People have started doing the maths again.

For many families, a quality timeshare holiday now represents better value than maintaining an overseas property or paying ever-increasing market rates for holiday accommodation every year.

Timeshare Has Changed

Perhaps even more importantly, timeshare itself has evolved.

Today's products bear little resemblance to those sold twenty or thirty years ago.

Modern ownership may include:

• floating weeks;
• points-based clubs;
• short breaks of three or four nights;
• online booking systems;
• digital ownership records;
• flexible holiday programmes.

In many respects, today's timeshare is an entirely different product.

Larger Resort Networks Mean Greater Choice

The industry has also undergone significant consolidation.

Major international brands continue acquiring smaller resorts and independent clubs, integrating them into larger holiday networks.

For owners, this often means access not just to one resort, but to hundreds of destinations worldwide.

The Industry Continues to Grow

When many owners first purchased their timeshare, destinations such as China, Vietnam, Bali, Croatia, Bulgaria, Georgia, Azerbaijan and many parts of Latin America were barely represented within the industry.

Today they form an increasingly important part of many holiday club portfolios.

The industry hasn't disappeared.

It has simply evolved.

Why Doesn't It Feel That Way?

In countries such as Russia and several other former Soviet states, people often don't see this development.

However, this reflects local market conditions and today's geopolitical realities—not the health of the global timeshare industry.

A better question might therefore be:

"Is my own timeshare ownership still right for me?"

That is a far more useful discussion.

What Should You Do?

If your timeshare no longer suits your lifestyle:

• consider upgrading to a more flexible ownership;
• choose a club offering destinations you now prefer;
• look for lower annual maintenance costs or pay-as-you-travel membership options;
• if the resale market is currently favourable, consider selling while demand remains strong;
• if your property is already listed for sale, refresh your listing and renew its online marketing to improve visibility.

If you've tried selling before without success:

• review whether the resale agency you used is still actively marketing your property;
• check whether your listing can be updated;
• ask whether returning sellers qualify for discounted advertising or promotional offers;
• develop a new resale strategy based on today's market conditions and list with the agencies currently generating the strongest buyer enquiries.

If you've stopped using your timeshare altogether:

• find out how your club has changed over the years;
• review whether today's membership benefits better match your current travel needs;
• if they do, explore the most cost-effective way to reinstate your membership;
• if only the season or apartment size no longer suits you, investigate whether an upgrade is available before reactivating your ownership;
• if your club no longer meets your expectations, consider transferring into a more suitable holiday club where your existing ownership may receive full or partial trade-in value.

Every owner's situation is different.

The important thing is not to assume that your options today are the same as they were ten or twenty years ago.

The timeshare market has changed considerably—and in many cases, so have the opportunities available to owners.

For independent advice, contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..