The travel sector has defied reports of a UK-wide fall in consumer confidence.
GfK’s Consumer Confidence Barometer has reported a drop in how consumers feel about their finances and the economy since the end of August amid Labour’s warning of a “painful” October 30 budget.
In contrast, travel agents and tour operators boasted of “fabulous” September sales – particularly of cruises – and insisted the change of government was not affecting customers’ booking habits.
The sentiments were echoed in Abta’s new Travel Confidence Index, which revealed Brits feel more confident about travelling overseas than this time last year, and Tui Group’s trading update, which highlighted positive booking momentum, with “promising” sales for this winter.
Jacqueline Dobson, president of Barrhead Travel, agreed: “Contrary to reports of slowing consumer spending in retail, travel continues to buck the trend this autumn with strong demand for leisure travel – particularly for lates. The weather has certainly contributed to a flurry of last-minute bookings.”
Agents cited cruise and family sales for 2025, as well as lates, as particularly buoyant.
Paul Hardwick, retail director, Fred Olsen Travel, which this week opened its 22nd shop, said: “We saw our best week since peaks in week one of this month.”
The Advantage Travel Partnership member credited the consortium’s ‘cruise month’ campaign for “massively” driving sales. Nearly 60% of its current sales were for ocean or river cruises, up nearly 10% on average, with most clients focused on 2025, said Hardwick.
He admitted enquiries were “taking longer” to convert but said “good value additions” for cruises were pushing sales over the line.
Sandra Corkin, managing director, Oasis Travel, agreed: “We’re having a fabulous September with sales ahead of projections. We had our cruise show two weeks ago and that was extremely successful, accounting for the increase.”
Bookings were for Christmas or 2025 rather than lates, she added.
Homeworking firm Independent Travel Experts reported a “significant” increase in demand for summer 2025 from families, making up 28% of bookings compared to around 18% this summer.
“This marks a notable rise compared to summer 2024,” said managing director Gary Gillespie.
The Travel Network Group said revenue and passenger numbers were up year on year for members. Non-family bookings for September were up 18% year on year while passenger numbers for short to mid-haul beach packages were up 25%, said commercial director Katharina Peck, who added: “September trading has been buoyant.”
Polka Dot Travel described trading as “in line with budget expectations” for the month. Director Mark Johnson insisted: “We’re very pleased with how things are going. The change of government has not really made any impact one way or the other.”
Advantage said members’ sales dipped slightly last week on the previous week but were still ahead of last year, with bookings for this autumn and next summer performing well.
But chief commercial officer Kelly Cookes admitted: “For the last few weeks members have been reporting that conversion is more challenging than it was, with consumers shopping around for discounts before booking. There doesn’t appear to be a dip in consumer confidence but they do want value.”
Smaller travel firms were similarly upbeat.
Thorne Travel cruise director John Ferguson said: “We’ve had more bookings this month than we had last year. We’re 90% to target this month already, so we’re going to hit the target we set for ourselves.”
“It’s been busier than July and it’s all converting,” said Travel Stop managing director Bridget Keevil, adding: “The cancellation rate is a bit higher than usual but mostly due to sickness, and nothing to worry about.”
Zoe Clark, travel sales manager at Swords Travel, said business had been “non-stop”, adding: “It’s been a good month against last year.”