LEGER Holidays has increased the number of battlefield tours in its programme, from just three last year, to eight in 1999, following increasing interest in the history of the two World Wars.
Sales director Peter Raynor said the five new battlefield tours have been added because of interest stemming from the 80th anniversary of the First World War last year.
He said:”The commemorations last year have certainly increased awareness among the public. There is a big demand now to satisfy interest in visits to the battlefields.
“Generally speaking, these tours attract the older generation, but we are seeing an increase in demand from young people whose grandfathers or great-grandfathers have fought in either war.
“Each tour has an expert guide to accompany clients. Passengers already know a lot about the areas they are visiting, however, and often have personal tales. We make sure they are also accompanied by a local expert.”
One new tour is a three-day Battlefields of Europe mini-break.Passengers visit the Somme in France, the town of Albert, home to the Somme Museum, and le Hamel. Prices start at ú109, with accommodation at the Best Western Hotel, in July. Prices include breakfast.
A four-day Second World War Operation Market-Garden tour in Holland visits the Groesbeek Liberation Museum and war cemetery in Nijmegen, and the Dutch National War Museum and Resistance Museum in Overloon.
Passengers travel to Calais by ferry from Dover, and stay at the Holiday Inn in Eindhoven. The tour costs ú169 per person between April and October, including breakfast.
The 10-day Italian Landings tour visits Anzio and Salerno, the Cassino war cemeteries, as well as including historical tours of Pompeii and Sorrento. The tour costs ú379 between April and October. Passengers stay at the Hotel Summit in the Tyrrhenian Sea region of Italy. Prices include breakfast.