OPERATORS are stepping up campaigns to stimulate
demand while rolling out contingency plans after the most dramatic sales drop
this year.
Extra security alerts at UK airports immediately hit
trade, with sales on the weekend of February 15 and 16 down 29%.
Turkey, Cyprus and Greece sales were worst hit but
Spain was also affected by a decline in family sales.
Lunn Poly has launched a Change Your
Mind, Change Your Holiday campaign waiving amendment fees up to £60 per booking
for changing the hotel or resort on Thomson or Skytours holidays. Going Places will
kick off a new window campaign this weekend to encourage bookings, while
MyTravel has begun sifting through cost-cutting suggestions by staff.
A spokeswoman from Thomas Cook said: “We’re looking at
contingency plans but nothing affecting shop staff. It is just being prudent if
war does break out.”
Fears have also been raised about potential wide-scale
cancellations of holidays booked on nil deposits due up next month.