Glasgow-based Barrhead Travel said it achieved record bookings at the weekend, highlighting the popularity of all-inclusive holidays and a trend towards longer vacations.
It noted that, over the weekend, 60% of bookings were for summer this year.
However, Barrhead Travel observed that last-minute getaways were also popular, with more than one in five new bookings due to depart before April “as people look to escape the winter blues”.
It said that all-inclusive holidays are the most popular type of vacation, accounting for more than 25% of bookings, “suggesting budgeting is a key trend for holidays in 2023”.
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Barrhead Travel added that top destinations booked during the first week of 2023 were Tenerife, Mallorca, Lanzarote, and Alicante, with Miami, Orlando and Canada among favoured long-haul destinations. It also highlighted cruises from Southampton as a top pick among customers.
At the weekend, around 45% of bookings made with Barrhead Travel were for 10 nights or more. And 10% were for 18 nights or more.
The travel agent noted that cruise bookings were up by more than 200% on the same time last year. It predicted “cruising is set to grow amongst the family market this year”.
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Jacqueline Dobson, president of Barrhead Travel, said: “Over the weekend we saw a record number of bookings, and we were delighted to be able to help so many customers secure a great deal. From the weekend, it appears budgeting and planning in advance is a clear factor for many when travelling this year, with all-inclusive trips and cruises being incredibly popular.
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“We also saw a huge number of bookings for 10 days or more, showing people want to go away and unwind for longer.”
She added: “Last year we saw more people look to book with a travel agent, and the weekend suggests this is only set to grow in 2023.”
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