Opodo ‘bucking industry trend’
Online agency Opodo has claimed to have bucked the industry trend and taken more bookings for tsunami hit countries in the first six months of the year than the same period last year.
The retailer said sales have rocketed 100%, sending Thailand to third place in its top 10 long haul destinations for 2005.
Bookings to Sri Lanka for travel between June and September have quadrupled, despite a 40% drop in bookings in the immediate aftermath of the tsunami.
Observers stressed however the dramatic increase is likely to be based on small numbers.
Opodo UK country manager Neil Mott said: “Our long haul customers are realising these areas still have much to offer. Thailand and Sri Lanka are popular choices this summer and with some good deals available we expect bookings to these areas to continue to grow.”
Elsewhere, Spain has ousted the US as the top summer destination while Portugal, Greece and Cyprus have shown strong growth. Eastern Europe is also becoming popular, the agency said, with the Czech Republic moving into the top ten for the first time.
Report by Steve Jones
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