Adventure operator Explore Worldwide claims to have already beaten last year’s final results, less than halfway through its financial year.
The achievement comes after a record-breaking January, which included the biggest day of sales in its 42-year history.
Almost a fifth (19%) of bookings are now through travel agents, as compared with 11% in 2019, following a focus on trade sales.
More: Explore Worldwide plans more staff and trade tools to support agents
Explore managing director Michael Edwards said: “We knew 2024 would be a big year for Explore.”
Strong sales were recorded during Black Friday week, as well as during a recent Great Europe Getaway campaign.
The greatest gains have been in Asia, Explore said, which has performed 51% better than last year.
Sri Lanka is up by 139% compared with last year, while a Simply Japan itinerary has recorded 61% growth and Cycle Vietnam is up by 74%.
Explore credited increased investment in overseas markets and the focus on trade sales as contributing to the growth.
The overseas investment includes additional customer service resources and new marketing managers in Australia and the US.
Hailing the success of the “globalisation strategy”, Edwards said: “We opened our second overseas office in Brisbane this time last year, and have expanded our team both there and in North America.
“In the last 12 months our overseas bookings have increased by 50% and we’re just getting started.”
Explore’s parent company is Hotelplan UK, which also owns Inghams and Santa’s Lapland.