Record year for travel industry
The travel industry in the UK enjoyed a record year in 2007, new figures have revealed.
According to the Guild of Travel Management Companies (GTMC), the total number of bookings made by business travellers reached almost 14 million last year.
This is 14% up on the figure recorded 12 months earlier and comes despite growing concerns over a possible global recession.
Members of the organisation booked 6% more flights last year than they did in 2006, while travel insurance purchases went up by more than a quarter.
Commenting on the findings, Philip Carlisle said they were a "cause for celebration".
He commented: "Our leaders were warning of a spectacular slump, but Britain's business community took no notice."
Mr Carlisle added that the rise in the number of rail bookings during this period showed that international travellers are become more environmentally conscious.
This comes after research by The Network found that most independent travel agents are expecting this year's number of holiday bookings to be up on 2007.
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