Thomson Sport has sold out of some packages for the World Cup in South Africa next year after England qualified for the tournament last week.
About 100,000 fans are expected to travel to South Africa in June, with many likely to book packages because of the large distances and costs involved.
Thomson Sport managing director Nathan Wilson said the operator had sold out of packages, which take in the full event, and only a few are left for the final-only package. For the group matches, 25% of packages have been sold following England’s victory against Croatia.
Wilson said: “We received 1,000 emails the morning after the qualifier. We are preparing to release our short-break packages and are expecting a good uptake based on the number of enquiries.”
FIFA has warned fans to avoid travel companies that are offering tickets and tour packages that are not FIFA appointed. Operators selling official packages include Thomas Cook Sport, Thomson Sport, Keith Prowse Hospitality and BAC Sport.
Agents have also seen some interest from fans looking to travel to South Africa independently. Large numbers of fans are expected to travel without tickets, hoping to buy them there.
Luxury tailor-made specialist Bailey Robinson product manager Alex Walters said: “One couple booked four nights in Londolozi Game Reserve and a week at the Four Seasons Seychelles. They plan was to celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary and to fit in a match at the World Cup.”
However, he said some consumers would be holding off until the draw for the group stages. “We haven’t had much interest because fans do not know where the teams are playing until December 4. Otherwise they might be buying hotel rooms in the wrong city and tickets for the wrong matches.”
Shropshire-based The Travel Wallet director Maggie Rogers said: “We always put sports events on our website, but we haven’t had any World Cup enquiries yet.”