OPERATORS and agents are
warning discount levels could hit 20% following a slow start to the peak January booking period.
The market is showing a 30% decline on last year with the millennium hangover and the long Christmas and new year holiday being blamed.
As Travel Weekly went to press, the highest discounts were 15% plus free insurance but operators and agents feared it could reach 20% by next weekend.
Thomas Cook retail managing director Andrew Windsor said: “If we are still struggling by next weekend, we could see some companies panic.”
In other developments, Travel Choice defended its national advertising campaign which pushes its direct-sell call centre in Scotland, while Cosmos sister direct-sell company Archer Tours has launched its first summer-sun beach programme.
n See Analysis, page 8 and page 84