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ENTREPRENEURS looking to start a new business should steer well clear of travel agencies, according to new research.

Of the UK’s 1,015 different industries, traditional high-street agencies rank a poor 644th in terms of return on investment - only slightly more profitable than fishmongers.

The figures - revealed in the Industry Investment Rankings survey - claim travel agents return just £4.70 for every £100 invested, compared with the UK average of £5.39. Top-performing business is drilling engineering, which returns a whopping £43.74 per £100. Bricklaying comes second, returning £34.59.

The top-ranked travel business is ski tour operating, which comes a respectable 18th in the league table (£14.69). Other travel sectors included in the research are summer sun operators (£6.26, ranked 366); caravan holiday parks (£4.90, ranked 604); hotels (£2.98, ranked 881); hotel booking agencies (£2.82, ranked 894); and tourist attractions (£2.35, ranked 930).