The Advantage Travel Partnership has reported that new bookings for summer departures from June to September are up 33% compared to the previous week – and up 12% compared to the same period in 2019.
It said the sales by Advantage Managed Services members showed that “travel chaos” headlines about problems at airports do not appear to be deterring the British public from getting away this summer.
The consortium’s top-selling destinations are the Canary Islands, Greece, Balearic Islands, Turkey and mainland Spain.
Kelly Cookes, Advantage leisure director, said: “The data tells us that despite the really challenging circumstances for some consumers over the past few weeks, Brits still want to travel and are committed to booking, albeit closer to departure than we would normally expect for this time of year, with 48% of all bookings booked to depart within 12 weeks of travel.
“Consumers clearly still have the confidence and appetite to book, seeking out popular destinations like the Canary Islands, Greece, Spain and Turkey.
“Despite the very challenging media headlines, the UK outbound travel industry is focused on ensuring it is in the best possible position to meet demand as we enter the peak summer season.
“For anyone still considering a last-minute holiday, I would remind them to book with their local travel agent. Travel agents are experts at guiding their customers when travel plans unexpectedly change, from changes to flights to updates on in-destination rules.”