The trade claims there are initial signs of a boyuant January.
Agents said shops had been busy since December 27 but year-on-year comparisons on a day-to-day basis are skewed because of how bank holidays fell and last year’s tsunami.
Kinver Travel owner Sue Foxall said: “People know what they want and want it booked.”
Lets Go Travel managing director Simon Maunder said: “Sales have been strong. The Exeter Airport Direct brochure has done well in a lot of our shops.”
Proprietor Anthony Goord, of Peter Goord Travel in Plymouth, said: “Between Christmas and the new year was one of the best periods for a long time. We had 62% more business.”
Long-haul operator Yenton Travel Worldchoice managing director Richard Dixon said sales were 20% up year on year, with Goa and the Maldives selling well. “We finished December quite well. Between Christmas and the new year, we were really busy,” he said.
First Choice retail trading director Cheryl Powell expects the third week of January to be the strongest. “We are not panicking,” she said.
Thomas Cook said the operator has seen strong business since Boxing Day thanks to the extra bank holidays giving people more time to shop around, with sales driven by families taking up early-booking offers.
But Travelcare general manager Amanda Williams warned of complex high-street messages. “I’d be confused if I was a consumer,” she said.
Travelcare is offering an extra £50 off with selective operators for this summer, nil deposits and free insurance for most Europe bookings over £399.
Meanwhile, Co-operative Travel Trading Group research has revealed prices to 10 of 50 top destinations visited have fallen since last year, although prices are generally up 3%, with long-haul increasingly popular. Agadir is down from £561 to £417 – a 25% decrease.