Peaks is a positive amid global unease

Travel adverts came to the fore once again over the festive period and the trade will be hoping the upbeat marketing activity sowed the seeds for a positive peaks.

Yet, as so often seems to be the case, the start of the year presented some challenges for agents and operators, with a tech outage causing Greek airspace to close and freezing winter conditions impacting services at key European airports including Amsterdam’s Schiphol.

The most concerning of the early-year headlines related to Donald Trump’s decision to intervene forcefully in Venezuelan politics, with charter aircraft bound for the Caribbean forced to turn back due to airspace warnings and cruise ports also impacted.

The move by the US government seems certain to have ramifications on a global scale but, with veiled threats made to other nations in the region, it will be of most immediate concern to travel businesses with a focus on Central and South America.

Despite the volatile start to the year, there were notes of positivity, with the cold snap and wintry conditions at home undoubtedly prompting customers to dream of sunnier climes.

The trade also received a timely boost, with consumer association Which? releasing feedback from its members that offered a wholehearted endorsement of booking through ‘traditional’ agents. 

It is clear the economic and geopolitical rollercoaster of 2025 isn’t suddenly going to turn into a gentle merry-go-round in 2026, but there remain many reasons to be positive for the year ahead.

Comment originally from Travel Weekly, January 8 edition