Travel Counsellors has recorded its highest trading week since March 2021, as well as the lowest number of cancellations.
Following this update, the independent travel very optimistic about overseas travel.
The demand for holidays is growing week by week. A third of all new bookings made last week (August 16) were for late summer 2021 escapes (top countries being Spain, Greece and the UK); another third for winter 2021/22 breaks (top three: the USA, Spain and the Maldives) and another third for summer 2022 (led by Greece, Spain and the USA) ? with cruise proving popular in 2022, off the back of the success of UK ?seacations? in 2021.
Kirsten Hughes, UK managing director at Travel Counsellors, commented: ?Despite the complexity around overseas travel that still exists, we are truly enjoying seeing so many more customers going abroad, making the most of their well-deserved break and sharing their experiences with friends, family and on social media. We are also seeing a much earlier demand for key holiday periods for winter 21/22 and summer 2022, when families and loved ones can travel together, so we strongly recommend booking as early as possible. Getting trusted travel advice from our Travel Counsellors is more important than ever, as they are in the best position to help customers navigate through the current complexity.?
Travel Counsellors? forward departure order book is up to four times higher at the moment, compared to the same period in a pre-pandemic year. In addition to demand for staycations and late bookings, long-haul destinations are becoming popular for 2022. Travel Counsellors experienced a 440% increase in bookings to the UAE after the last travel announcement, when the country was moved from ?red? to ?amber?. The travel company is seeing a similar demand for Mauritius and many other long-haul destinations as restrictions ease.
