Holidaymakers are taking advantage of the two long weekends created by the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton, according to Lastminute.com.
Speaking at a Cimtig marketing group Question Time event in London last night, Mark Maddock, lastminute.com managing director UK and Ireland, said: “There has been a massive appetite for travel around the royal wedding dates.
“Long haul is really flying. Kenya has seen a 200% increase already this year because of the proposal.” Maddock said research on customers’ travel plans carried out by the online travel agency had proved heartening.
Some 70% of respondents said they would take as many or more holidays than they did last year. The average spend so far is £1,550 – 15% up on 2010.
Sunvil managing director Noel Josephides agreed that long haul was performing well, particularly Africa and Latin Amercia.
“We are up 5% on last year, with the growth coming from long haul, but this is early bookers so no-one knows whether it will dry up,” he said.
Advantage travel agents consortium leisure director Julia Lo Bue Said top-end enquiries were coming through but the family market was still challenging.