Family sales to the US over the festive season are expected to grow following the news under-18s will not need to be vaccinated to enter the States.
Operators and agents welcomed clarification of entry rules for the US from November 8, when borders reopen.
The Biden administration confirmed children under 18, as well as visitors with some medical issues, will be exempt from the vaccine requirements. International travellers, including under 18s, will have to present proof of a negative Covid-19 test – antigen, PCR or Lamp – taken within 72 hours of departure.
The trade has already seen a jump in enquiries following news of borders reopening while airlines including Virgin Atlantic and Delta Air Lines have ramped up capacity as demand has grown.
USAirtours chief executive Guy Novik now expects more families to book in the coming months as a result of the entry rules clarification.
He said: “It will encourage those with families to think about a winter sun break, particularly for family-oriented destinations such as Florida.”
The clarification will also help convert enquiries for next year, he said, adding: “Those people who have made enquiries but not booked may well now come forward to book. We would certainly expect to see actual bookings and increased conversion rates off the back of this news.”
Advantage Travel Partnership chief executive Julia Lo Bue-Said agreed, calling the clarification “great news” for the trade.
She said: “This will make a big difference for sales up until Christmas and over the festive period for families as well as forward bookings for big family holidays that people have missed out on over the past two years.”
Barrhead Travel said its agents were excited about being able to book the US again after two years of “virtually no travel” and expected a further bounce in bookings as a result of the clarification of entry rules.
President Jacqueline Dobson said: “With the news of the US confirming travel requirements, we anticipate a boost in bookings across the pond.
“Since the initial announcement last month, we have experienced a climb in enquiries and bookings to the US, with Florida ranking number two in our top selling destinations last week.
“We expect the [entry rules] announcement to have a powerful impact on our pre-Christmas recovery, with the US being a key destination for winter outbound travellers.”
The news came as the trade reported steady week-on-week sales growth across the board.
The Holiday Village managing director Paula Nuttall attributed the switch to cheaper lateral flow day two tests for stimulating family and late bookings. “Sales and demand are increasing weekly,” she said. “Compared with the same period in 2019 we are 25% up.”
Barrhead Travel similarly has seen a “steady incline” since the testing changes were announced. Its current top booking destinations include Tenerife, Orlando, Dubai, Lanzarote, Gran Canaria and Miami.
Advantage members’ summer 2022 sales saw the biggest hike last week while the Canaries still “dominated” winter sales. Long-haul bookings rose for November onwards.
Bailey’s Travel owner Chris Bailey said bookings were rising steadily but cautioned: “It’s not a tsunami. Winter is sluggish.”
He said Morocco’s decision to suspend UK flights was a concern. “People are gaining in confidence, however the Morocco decision is a worry if other countries follow their lead,” he said.
Deben Travel owner Lee Hunt said availability over Christmas was limited and welcomed any extra capacity into the market.
“If anything we are finding customers have got the desire to book but at times we are struggling to find availability,” he said.