In our regular market update, the slow winter market is showing encouraging signs of hotting up across a variety of destinations

In our regular market update, the slow winter market is showing encouraging signs of hotting up across a variety of destinations

THE winter market is at last beginning to show signs of improvement after months of tough trading.

Bakers Dolphin managing director Kevin Abbey said: “We were 20% ahead of target last week.

“We have a slight advantage in the southwest in that the population is older and it tends to holiday more in the winter.

“Many people in this part of the country are also in the tourism industry so they take winter holidays very seriously.”

Devon-based Let’s Go Travel managing director Simon Maunder said winter sales are 16% ahead of last year.

“We are trying to build up our winter business so we are pleased with the performance,” he said.

Travel Choice managing director Gerry Reilly described sales as “steady”.

“It’s not spectacular but Florida and the Canaries are doing OK,” he said. “There aren’t too many heavy discounts in the market at the moment which is encouraging.”

Aldershot-based Wellington Travel manager Kerry Dawes said sales in the past fortnight have improved considerably.

“People are booking for November and February in particular,” she said. “Apart from the usual destinations, we are seeing strong sales for South Africa and Australia in the New Year period.”