Summer 2012 sales up on this year
TUI Travel claimed holidays for next summer were selling better than packages a year ago, even though prices have risen by an average of £30 to £40 per person.
Distribution director Nick Longman said the operator had taken more bookings for summer 2012 than it had this time last year for 2011, but he said it was too early to know how the season would sell overall.
"Summer 2012 holidays only went on sale a couple of weeks ago, but the high season is already selling very well and bookings have surpassed our expectations," said Longman. Capacity for next summer is roughly in line with this year, though prices are higher due to increases in the cost of fuel and other price rises.
Longman said it was possible consumers who are unable to afford a holiday this year have booked early for 2012 "in order to have something to look forward to", creating a small increase in demand.
He said London’s hosting of the Olympics next summer does not appear to have dented early bookings, even though millions of Britons are expected to attend the Games in July and August.
"It will be interesting to see what happens next month when people see what tickets they get," added Longman, referring to the fact that those who have applied for oversubscribed events won’t find out until next month if they have been successful. "We may get a bit of a fillip."
TUI chief executive Peter Long said if the operator noticed there was less demand for overseas holidays during the Olympics in some parts of the UK, then it would shift capacity to other departure points.
"Certainly if there is more demand for holidays from places such as the northeast say, where people don’t want to travel to London for the Olympics, then we can offer more holidays from that region," added Longman. "We will make a call on that in January or February."
By Linsey McNeill
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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