Internet overtakes agency bookings
More people are now booking through the internet than going to a travel agent, according to a new survey by market research company Mintel.
A poll of 1,300 adults revealed that in the past 12 months, 33 per cent booked holidays through the internet, while 32 per cent visited their travel agent. The other bookings went either direct to a tour operator, through teletext, newspapers and magazines.
The figures are thought to be heavily weighted by the huge growth in no-frills flights, which are almost exclusively booked over the internet.
Co-op Travel general manager, commercial, Mike Beaumont, speaking at a TravelMole Fast Conference in London, addressing new business opportunities for agents and operators, said the value of the package holiday was being under-estimated.
“I don’t think people realise when they book with a no-frills airline that they are not covered in the event of a failure,” he said. “The prices may look very attractive, but in reality the average cost of a no-frills airline seat is £140, which is a considerable amount of money.
“Look at how the tour operators looked after customers in the Caribbean during Hurricane Ivan. Operators also offer an enormous amount of flexibility for customers.”
The Mintel survey follows admissions by Thomson and Thomas Cook that they are considering cutting back on the number of travel agents, particularly in the south-east, following an increase in internet bookings.
Thomas Cook managing director of sales Steve Finlan said: “The number of people booking over the website is still relatively small, but it has increased by 400 per cent in the past two years and customers are more internet savvy in the south-east.”
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