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JUST 300 agents have signed up to this year’s ABTA Convention in Orlando with Newman Street blaming a tough year for a lack of attendees.

ABTA said around 1,500 delegates had signed up to date, 615 of which are ABTA members and 300 of which are agents.

ABTA head of corporate affairs Keith Betton said numbers had been affected by tour operators who had decided against hosting agents.

"Retailer numbers are lower than expected, but operators have had a tough year and profits have been low," he said.

TUI UK is not sponsoring agents to attend the convention this year, despite having taken 200 to Palma last year and 300 to Cairo in 2002. It blamed costs for the move.

MyTravel has also ruled out sending agents, while First Choice is hosting 20 retailers. Complete Cruise Solution is taking 40 Thomas Cook agents.

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