Money worries don’t deter holidaymakers

Rising interest rates,high inflation and an increase in personal debt will not stop the public going on holiday.

A straw poll by Travel Weekly found most people consider a break a necessity, rather than a luxury, and so will continue to spend disposable income on holidays, despite feeling the pinch.

Of the people we spoke to nine out of 10 are still planning on booking a holiday this year or next, despite the impending doom and gloom predicted recently in national newspapers.

However, some people we spoke to said they may cut down on the amount they spend on going on holiday.

Federation of Tour Operators director-general Andy Cooper said holidays are at the top of people’s requirements. He admitted July and August ‘were not great’, but said indications were September and October would prove to be stronger months than normal.

Midconsort chief executive Charles Eftichiou said: “We have had a busy week. People have left it late but there is enough capacity there. There were a lot of high-value holidays sold.”

And Advantage managing director John McEwan said the summer had seen a recovery in the market, although it will still be 6-7% down compared to last year.

“There has been a change in the last 10 days. Holidays are being sold at around the same price as last year.”

Gold Medal Travel chief executive Terry Fisher added: “We are quite pleased with the volumes coming through.”