King's Lynn travel agency reports 135 per cent surge in bookings
The prime minister's roadmap reveal has given holidaymakers the hope they need to create a surge of 135 per cent more bookings for summer 2021 according to Co-operative Travel.
With 78 travel agency branches across the country, including one in Lynn's High Street, the company reported a huge increase in interest and bookings for summer getaways on the day of the government's announcement.
It was revealed on Monday that international travel could potentially re-start from May 17, which caused a surge of traffic to the Co-Operative Travel website, increased by 130 per cent from the previous week.
Natalie Turner, head of retail for Co-operative Travel, said: “The Prime Minister’s announcement this week has really inspired confidence in our customers to book that longed-for getaway and has given them renewed hope that they will get a summer holiday this year.
"Since the current lockdown began, bookings have been geared very much towards 2022 and even as far ahead as 2023, but Monday’s announcement has sparked a rush of bookings and enquiries for this summer and autumn."
With the shift in customer priorities turning to summer 2021 rather than bookings for 2022, it's created a significant shift for the travel industry.
Greece is leading the way in the popularity stakes, taking 22 per cent of the summer 2021 bookings, followed by the Balearics and Canary Islands, demonstrating a clear demand for holidays to islands, which were less affected by Covid-19 last summer.
The most popular month for departure is September 2021, closely followed by August, then June and July for those travellers who are keep to escape as soon as restrictions lift.
Natalie added: “Our customers know only too well that the path through this pandemic remains unpredictable and package holidays, booked through a trusted travel agent, which offer financial protection, are in high demand as a result.
"Customers are taking advantage of our Co-op Holidays Promise***, available on all package holidays booked through our in-house tour operator, Co-op Holidays, because it offers flexible payments options, free changes and cancellations, low deposits and refunds within 10 days. We also sell package holidays from a wide variety of other, big name, tour operators and many of them are also offering really flexible booking policies with Covid-19 in mind.”
The Lynn branch of Co-operative Travel is currently closed, but they are continuing to take holiday bookings and help customers with refunds and re-arranging pandemic-affected trips, via phone, email and social media.
