Tour operators report decline in Costa del Sol bookings

Many travel operators are reporting decreases in bookings to the Costa del Sol for this winter, by as much as 60 per cent.

There is evidence, however, than increased numbers of holidaymakers are travelling independently.

TUI-Thomson-First Choice, the UK and Germany’s main tour operator, has reported that bookings by UK holidaymakers for Spain’s Costa del Sol are down by 60 per cent.

Experts on British tourism at the London World Travel Market are advising the Costa del Sol tourist board to carry out additional promotions and to lower their prices.

Meetings were held between travel operators and local tourist officials on Wednesday at the trade show, but the conclusion was reached that the upcoming winter season is largely lost, with the only hope being a small recovery in bookings by UK holidaymakers for January.

The tour operators’ pessimism is at odds, though, with the announcement made by budget flight operators that they are increasing service from the UK to Málaga in the coming year.

The latest numbers coming from the World Travel Market are showing that up to 60 per cent of British travellers are now buying their own airline tickets, booking their own accommodation and also buying tickets for museums and theatre performances online.

www.thomson.co.uk