The Advantage Travel Partnership has reported an “exceptional” end to the year, with “an impressive surge” in bookings and revenue growth for the festive period and 2025 sales.
Bookings for the Christmas period are up 12% year-on-year, with the Canary Islands dominating bookings for the festive season, followed by Benidorm.
The US, Dubai and Thailand are the most sought-after long-haul locations over the Christmas holidays.
The consortium said long-haul bookings have proven “resilient” throughout 2024, as travellers are looking for richer, immersive experiences.
The long-haul sector also caters for a range of budgets, from luxury to more affordable options.
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The most common trip length remains at eight nights, while all-inclusive packages are the dominant choice, accounting for about 50% of bookings and seeing significant growth, said Advantage.
Looking ahead to 2025, the consortium’s agencies are 15% ahead year-on-year, with summer holidays accounting for 55% of all reservations.
Tenerife, Majorca and Costa Blanca are the most popular, while the US, the Caribbean and Thailand top the list for long-haul destinations.
Julia Lo Bue-Said, Advantage chief executive, said: “We’ve had a really strong performance throughout 2024 and it’s great that we’re ending the year on a high.
“The strength of trading throughout 2024 reflects the resilience of both our travel agent partners and the broader travel sector.
“The appetite for travel continues to grow as consumers seek both value and experience, and we’re excited to see this momentum continue into 2025.
“Our agent partners across the UK also continue to see new customers as people look to book their travel via a travel agent, not only to get access to great deals but also for peace of mind when travelling.
“As the UK travel industry now enters one of the year’s peak booking periods, when approximately 60% of Brits book a family summer package holiday by the end of February, our travel agency partners are gearing up for a busy period.
“We are supporting them with a major marketing campaign: That Just Booked Feeling, with offers, promotions, and incentives to encourage early bookings.”
Pictured: Tenerife in the Canary Islands, by Shutterstock/Lobachad