United Kingdom
United States
Asia Pacific
Package sales rise after two-year slump
Sales of holidays and flights protected by air travel organiser’s licences rose in the 12 months to September 2004 after two years of falls. According to the Civil Aviation Authority, 28 million passengers were ATOL-protected last year – up 1.8 per cent on 2003 – and they paid an average price of £481 for their holidays. The increase came in the sales of package and charter seat business, which was up 2.7 per cent, while ATOL- protected scheduled sales fell by 2.2 per cent. The trend is set to continue this winter. Licences in force for the period suggest a 2 per cent growth in package and charter seat-only business, but this will be mostly offset by a further reduction in scheduled sales. The total business licensed to all ATOL holders at December was only slightly lower than at the same time last year, because capacity reductions by the four vertically-integrated companies has been almost matched by the growth from smaller tour operators and online specialists. At 2,132, the number of licences in force in December was the highest ever, following the introduction of Small Business ATOL arrangements in 2004. Only companies selling less than 500 seats per annum are eligible for these licences. CAA director of consumer protection Richard Jackson said: “We are very encouraged by the response of small firms to Small Business ATOLs and believe it has made ATOLs more cost effective for firms who would not previously have considered them.”
Walt Leger on New Orleans’ Resilience and Major Events Ahead
Cindy Mackin Shares Estes Park’s Winter Thrills
Mark Jaronski of Explore Georgia on FIFA World Cup 2026
Connecting Small Businesses to Global Tourism Markets: Nate Huff of Tourism Exchange
North Carolina’s Resilience: Wit Tuttell on Recovery and Tourism
Kittipong Prapattong’s Plan for Thailand’s Tourism Growth: Taxes, Visas, and Campaigns
James Jin: Didatravel’s Journey from China to Global Reach and the Impact of AI on Travel
Darien Schaefer on Pensacola’s Evolution: From Small Town to Global Destination
Florida Tourism’s Next Frontier: Dana Young on Expanding Beyond the Classics
Patrick Harrison on Tampa Bay Tourism’s Resilience and Marketing Strategy
Bubba O’Keefe on Clarksdale’s Vibrant Music Scene
Commemorating Elvis and Embracing Tupelo’s Culture with Jennie Bradford Curlee
BA suspending all Heathrow to Abu Dhabi flights
Unexpected wave rocks cruise ship
Woman dies after going overboard in English Channel
Report: Cruise guest died after ship lashed in heavy storm
British teen in serious condition after paraglider collision