SINGAPORE �" Contiki Holidays, the specialist in vacations for 18-35 year-olds, has revealed that tour bookings from Singapore to Europe and America combined have doubled compared to the same period a year ago.

At the end of June 2008, Contiki tour bookings out of Singapore to popular backpacking destinations in Europe have matched that of the total number of tour bookings in 2007 and this is expected to grow by an additional 75 percent by the end of 2008.

Tour bookings to North America have also increased by 20 percent.

“Despite the fuel price increase early this year, we have noticed a marked increase in the number of tour bookings, especially to places like Europe and the United States,” said Nicholas Lim, regional director (Asia) for Contiki Holidays.

“It’s a clear indication that although people are trying to keep travel costs down, smart travellers are taking advantage of the weakened US dollar and indulging themselves in a well-deserved break,” said Lim.