Members of the Guild of Travel Management Companies reported a 13% rise in bookings in the first half of the year.
The GTMC’s Quarterly Transaction Survey recorded 7.2 million bookings in the six months to June compared with 6.3 million in the same period in 2006.
Hotel bookings showed a double-digit increase, but the biggest growth came in rail travel – up 24% – and ancillary transactions, such as transfers and passport and visa services, up 28%.
GTMC chief executive Philip Carlisle expressed delight, adding: “The big increase in rail bookings and ancillary transactions is particularly pleasing.”