Travel agents have failed to move away from selling traditional products despite much-touted moves to offer consumers greater flexibility.
Almost half the holidays booked by agents last year were to beach resorts (46%) and more than half were traditional seven or 14-night summer breaks (55%).
Indeed, research presented by Mintel suggests seven-night breaks increased to 30% of all the holidays agents sold last year, up from 29% in 2006. Fourteen-night breaks fell from 29% to 25% of total sales over the same period.
There was little or no change in the proportion of four to six-night and eight to 13-night holidays. However, sales of shorter breaks of one to three nights doubled to 8% of the total.
Just over half the holidays sold by agents last year were for June to September (51%). The proportion of self-bookers travelling in the summer peak was slightly higher at 52%, but down from 58% two years earlier.