Holiday sales mid-haul increased by 3% this winter
Holiday sales to mid-haul destinations have increased by 3% this winter compared with the previous year, while bookings for short-haul and long-haul destinations have fallen.
According to Ascent MI's Leisure Travel Monitor, bookings for winter 2008/09 up to and including December 31 2008, showed holiday sales for destinations within a four-hour flight range - such as Egypt and Turkey - are bucking the general downward trend.
The increase in mid-haul sales is largely driven by online and telephone bookings rather than high-street agents and are up 10%. On the other hand, the high street has seen a 2% decline in bookings to these destinations this winter.
Short-haul sales fared the worst, down by more than 10%.
Based on LTM figures, destinations performing well this winter are Egypt, Turkey, Mexico and the Caribbean. All-inclusive holidays are up by 13% for the winter season 2008/09.
Ascent MI chief executive Sarah Smalley said late sales for the current winter season would demonstrate if operators had successfully managed supply and demand through their capacity cuts.
She said: "The final four months will show how successful these capacity cuts have been or whether there are still too many holidays left to sell."