Internet travel start-ups are “parasites” says Long

Report by Lisa James

FIRST Choice Group chief executive Peter Long has hit out at Internet start-ups that sell travel, calling them parasites.

Speaking at this year’s ABTA convention in Kos, Long said most start-ups would be short lived and were fronted by people who had no idea how to run a business.

He said: “Nine months ago us old-economy companies were all going to die because wee were all going to be taken over by the Internet companies.

“The whole thing is just a complete nonsense. Some of the business plans of Internet start-ups are unbelievable – these guys must be smoking dope when they put them together. There is no foreseeable reason why they are going to work. They are wasting their time.”

He added: “These parasites are coming into our industry and adding absolutely no value whatsoever.”