Total summer 2008 sales booked up to the end of June have fallen just 1% on last year, according to market intelligence service Ascent-MI’s Leisure Travel Monitor.
The statistics show flight and air package bookings have both declined, by 6% and 2% respectively, while accommodation-only bookings are up 34%.
The figures suggest a trend towards selling dynamic packages, said chief executive Sarah Smalley, who added flight sales have increased in recent weeks.
The data, which is sourced from Thomas Cook and TUI Travel retail and direct sales and more than 55% of ABTA agents’ bookings, also show the number of holidaymakers who booked package holidays and accommodation-only for this summer until the end of June is 1% up on last year to 7.76 million.
Consumers booking shorthaul destinations are down 4% to 2.6 million, while midhaul is up 2% to 3.9 million and longhaul up 3% to 893,005.
Shorthaul sales have been hit by a poor euro exchange rate and a shift to more popular destinations such as Egypt, Turkey, the US, Mexico and the Caribbean.
Average selling prices for packages and accommodation-only this summer are also up £17 from £610 to £627. This reflects a £27 increase in midhaul holiday prices to £570, while shorthaul prices have remained static and longhaul prices have gone up £2 to £1,188.
Packages and accommodation-only bookings by haul, summer 2008
| Summer bookings to June 08 pax | Summer bookings to June 07 pax | Trend | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 7,764,816 | 7,709,155 | +1% |
| Shorthaul | 2,652,380 | 2,749,334 | -4% |
| Midhaul | 3,966,912 | 3,884,009 | +2% |
| Longhaul | 893,005 | 866,043 | +3% |