Thomson capitalises on best- seller

Thomson is planning to capitalise on the success of best-selling novel the Da Vinci Code with a range of deals to Paris in its new Cities and Short Breaks programme. Dan Brown’s book, which details the secrets of artists such as Leonardo Da Vinci and the search for the Holy Grail, has led to a surge in the number of visitors to the Louvre and churches in Paris. French newspaper Le Monde said the book triggered an undisputed tourist phenomenon with visitor figures to the Louvre up 17.6 per cent. Thomson has breaks to Paris starting from £85 per person, based on two people sharing, for one night’s hotel accommodation and return transfers on Eurostar. A full-day guided tour of Paris costs £66 per person and includes a tour of the Louvre, a boat trip along the Seine, lunch at the Eiffel Tower and a walking tour of Notre-Dame. Elsewhere in the new programme, which has accommodation in 64 cities and 33 countries, three night packages in Las Vegas are offered from £522 per person. Thomson is waving bank holiday supplements next year for people booking by December 31 for any 2005 bank holiday weekend.