News

OPERATORS are stepping up campaigns to stimulate demand while rolling out contingency plans after the most dramatic sales drop this year.

Extra security alerts at UK airports immediately hit trade, with sales on the weekend of February 15 and 16 down 29%.

Turkey, Cyprus and Greece sales were worst hit but Spain was also affected by a decline in family sales.

Lunn Poly has launched a Change Your Mind, Change Your Holiday campaign waiving amendment fees up to £60 per booking for changing the hotel or resort on Thomson or Skytours holidays. Going Places will kick off a new window campaign this weekend to encourage bookings, while MyTravel has begun sifting through cost-cutting suggestions by staff.

A spokeswoman from Thomas Cook said: “We’re looking at contingency plans but nothing affecting shop staff. It is just being prudent if war does break out.”

Fears have also been raised about potential wide-scale cancellations of holidays booked on nil deposits due up next month.