ABTA predicts late holiday rush

ABTA - the Travel Association has predicted a late surge in overseas holiday bookings, as the Met Office admits its much-publicised summer heatwave may never appear.

According to ABTA, the Met Office is now saying that the mixed weather of July will continue into August. And the Mediterranean is looking more and more appealing to sun-starved British holiday-makers with temperatures in the 40s.

ABTA members are reporting increases in business of up to 30% over the last two weeks and 40% up on the same period last year. Many customers are looking for last minute holidays to escape the dreary summer at home.

Mark Tanzer, ABTA Chief Executive, said: “The weather does affect business and although we know that poor weather encourages outbound tourism, it’s also true to say that by contrast overseas visitors coming from hot countries enjoy our cooler climate.”

ABTA is the largest travel association in the UK. Members provide 90% of the foreign package holidays in the UK as well as helping with arrangements for millions of independent holidays.

Even with a last-minute holiday bargain it pays to pre-book your airport parking with Holiday Extras.

Written by: Maxine Clarke, July 29 2009