Explore Worldwide has reported a jump in UK trade bookings in line with increasing worldwide sales.
The specialist tour operator said travel agent bookings have made up 24% of UK sales in the last four weeks compared with 16% a year ago.
This mirrors a similar trend for the operator’s worldwide sales, which have surged to an even higher percentage of 29% of bookings compared with 17% during the same period last year.
The spike follows an increase in trade spend and resources in the last 12 months, including additional marketing funds and a 50% increase in the size of the UK trade team. The company has also upped its trade activity in Australia and North America.
Agency sales manager Philippa Baines said the sales spike came after a few months of “consistent year on year growth”.
She said: “It’s been a fantastic year for trade sales at Explore and we just continue to consistently build on that, having published our first dedicated trade versions of our Unforgettable Adventures and Family brochures for 2025, and most recently adding to the team by recruiting Darren Phillips to represent us up in Scotland.
“We’ve always been an agent-friendly brand, promising 100% price parity, with all our promos and discounts – including loyalty discounts – available via agents and fully funded by us. Now with a bit of additional resource, and marketing spend behind us, we’re able to realise more of our plans, which is having a great impact.”
The operator cited family adventure trips as particularly good sellers, with agents looking for experience-led family travel options for clients.
The most popular destinations sold through the trade are Japan (pictured), which has made up 41% of trade revenue worldwide, Costa Rica, Sri Lanka, South Africa and Vietnam.