Consumers 'to book holidays at last minute'
A holiday firm has predicted that many consumers will wait to the last minute before booking their trip abroad.
Hays Travel believes the number of sales in January 2009 will be down on this year, as people are delaying purchases in the midst of current financial uncertainty, Travel Weekly reports.
Speaking at the Abta Travel Convention, managing director John Hays admitted that he would be surprised if the start of the new year is a good period for the industry.
"I see a trend of people booking closer to departure," he commented.
Nick Longman, distribution director at TUI Travel, added that he also believes next year will be a challenging period for the sector.
However, he said while people may be less inclined to take weekend breaks because of the financial crisis, they will not give up their main summer holidays.
According to research commissioned by the Association of British Travel Agents, 83% of those who have been abroad recently will again head overseas in the next year.
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