Agents attributed growing consumer confidence and sales over the bank holiday weekend to a lack of major upheavals in the latest traffic light update.
Seven countries including Canada were added to the green list by the government last week while Thailand and Montenegro joined the red list. No countries moved to amber.
Steve Cox, sales manager at Premier Travel, reported an increase in bookings, adding: “Forty-five per cent of last week’s business converted on the Friday and Saturday, which is really encouraging, especially as Saturdays have tended to be a quieter day.”
He said consistent updates every third week were giving clients more confidence, “especially considering there weren’t any major changes
in the key European holiday destinations this time”.
More:WTTC joins calls for UK government to ditch traffic light system
Traffic light update ‘not enough to trade out of crisis’
Industry leaders looking beyond this week’s traffic light update
Sara Dunham, The Midcounties Co-operative’s chief officer for travel, reported “a boost in bookings and enquiries for September and October 2021” with interest in Malta, Croatia and Majorca as well as mainland Spain, the Balearics, Canaries, Greek islands and Cyprus.
Retail division Your Co-op Travel saw an increase in bookings on Friday, a “stronger Saturday” and “a small shift towards summer 2021 bookings” last week. “People are definitely feeling more confident,” Dunham added.
Steve Witt, co-founder of Not Just Travel, said: “There was a collective sigh of relief from customers and potential customers which led to a flurry of activity.”
Nearly 60% of the homeworking group’s bookings were for 2021, which Witt said proved “there is still huge demand to get away this year”.
Kelly Cookes, leisure director at Advantage Travel Partnership, said the update had a minimal effect with few key destinations affected. Of last week’s bookings, 29% were for September. She said testing, and the pre-return test in particular, was the “biggest deterrent” reported by the consortium’s members.
Barrhead Travel president Jacqueline Dobson said 2021 departures were “not yet where they need to be but gradually increasing” with the autumn half-term popular.
Westoe Travel owner Graeme Brett reported “mini peaks” following each traffic light update. “People are booking last-minute, in a three-week cycle or for next summer,” he said.
The Travel Network Group and Gold Medal both unveiled marketing campaigns in anticipation of growing confidence and sales this month.
More: WTTC joins calls for UK government to ditch traffic light system
Traffic light update ‘not enough to trade out of crisis’
Industry leaders looking beyond this week’s traffic light update