Two million customers to book holidays this week
Today is the most depressing day of the year, according to ABTA, which estimates that two million people will book their next holiday this week to try to lift their spirits.
The travel association said the third week of January is typically the busiest of the month as Britons take advantage of the holiday discounts available to shed the January blues.
Spain, Portugal, Greece and Italy are the destinations most likely to be in demand this week, it said, as the pound has rallied in recent weeks to almost €1.2 to make them more affordable.
Spain came second in a recent Post Office report on destinations offering the lowest prices for day to day expenses. For those seeking winter sun, Sri Lanka, one of ABTA’s 2012 Travel Trends "Hot" destinations, was the cheapest.
ABTA head of communications Victoria Bacon said: "With two four-day weekends in the first half of 2012 (Easter and the Diamond Jubilee) many people are expected to take advantage of the time off work and go abroad.
"The amazing deals and wide availability on offer at this time of year are also guaranteed to help put a smile on peoples’ faces."
By Linsey McNeill
Have you noticed any increase in bookings? Are you busier than usual? Let us know by using the Comment button below.
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
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Qatar Airways offers reduced timetable to over 60 destinations
Hands In, UATP join forces for airline multi-card payments
AirlineRatings reveals world's safest airline rankings for 2026
Vietnam warns airlines of possible flight reductions amid jet fuel shortages
Fliggy opens AI-powered travel bookings and developer tools