MEDIA RELEASE: 19 June 2009

Rise in late break bookings shows sunnier times are on the horizon for holidaymakers

According to online travel agent responsibletravel.com, holidaymakers’ confidence has improved over the last three months as almost a fifth (19%) of its total customers have gone ‘late’ and spontaneously enquired and departed within a four week period. Furthermore, over a third (37%) of customers have travelled within eight weeks of first enquiring about their holiday.

These four week late booking figures reflect a rise of almost a third (31%) compared to the same period last year and almost a fifth (20%) for eight week late bookings.

The increase comes at a time when tour operators and airlines have already reduced capacity for the upcoming season and across the year in general. The late availability holiday deals that are on offer are being snapped up fast and according to Justin Francis, managing director of responsibletravel.com, it marks a pronounced increase in consumer confidence:

“There is no doubt that times were tough over the winter and consumer confidence was severely affected as a result. However, these figures are a sign that holidaymakers’ confidence is definitely improving. While it's far too early to call an end to what might be a long recession it’s clear that in recent weeks more people are coming into the summer market looking to book and depart at short notice. Some will be disappointed that they cannot get their first or even second choice holidays as airline capacity has been reduced.”

Those countries topping the list for late bookings are: England; Italy; Morocco; Spain; France; Turkey; Wales and Greece.

responsibletravel.com work with over 300 tour operators across the globe, from small specialist operators to some of the larger, more mainstream travel providers.

See www.responsibletravel.com/latedeals  

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Notes to editors
-Figures are for the period 12 March – 12 June 2008 vs 12 March – 12 June 2009