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Travel agents can’t be beaten by internet
A recent study that challenged consumers to use the internet to self-package a holiday concluded that travel agents can source a cheaper holiday in less time.
The study pitted consumers against independent travel agents in a bid to find a holiday for a family of four or a break for two adults from various UK airports.
The study found that agents took an average 15 minutes to source a package holiday versus an average 111 minutes spent searching the internet.
According to the Co-operative Travel Trading Group (CTTG), which commissioned the study, agents found a better deal in over half of the trials. It also said that consumers found the web to be confusing, repetitive and a “bottomless pit”.
CTTG, whose agents sell holidays through both retail stores and through the internet says the web is not redundant. Chief operating officer Mike Greenacre said: “Independently packaging your holiday via the internet or other sources is a fantastic option if you want flexibility or enjoy hunting around for something a little different – but when it comes to the main summer break, the package holiday still takes some beating.”
He added: “We didn’t set out to prove that travel agents were cheaper or that the internet or self-packaging was quicker. We simply wanted to investigate whether the travel agent’s job can be matched by anyone with a computer and access to the internet.”
Report by Ginny McGrath
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