ENTREPRENEURS looking to start a new business should
steer well clear of travel agencies, according to new research.
Of the UK’s 1,015 different industries, traditional
high-street agencies rank a poor 644th in terms of return on investment – only
slightly more profitable than fishmongers.
The figures – revealed in the Industry Investment
Rankings survey – claim travel agents return just £4.70 for every £100
invested, compared with the UK average of £5.39. Top-performing business is
drilling engineering, which returns a whopping £43.74 per £100. Bricklaying
comes second, returning £34.59.
The top-ranked travel business is ski tour operating,
which comes a respectable 18th in the league table (£14.69). Other travel
sectors included in the research are summer sun operators (£6.26, ranked 366);
caravan holiday parks (£4.90, ranked 604); hotels (£2.98, ranked 881); hotel
booking agencies (£2.82, ranked 894); and tourist attractions (£2.35, ranked
930).