British Travel Agents Forecast Strong Second-Quarter Numbers

Over three quarters (75.4 percent) of UK business travel agents predict they will see an increase in bookings during the second quarter of 2006, compared to 70.1 percent of UK leisure agents.

This is according to the latest Amadeus snap poll in which more than 175 UK leisure and business travel agents and industry professionals were surveyed about how they felt the travel industry would perform during the second quarter of 2006.

Conversely, 4.9 percent of business travel agents and 9.2 percent of leisure agents surveyed expected to see a downturn in sales during the second quarter of 2006. The decrease averaged 10 percent.

The remaining 19.7 percent of business agents and 20.7 percent of leisure expected no change in the volume of sales during the second quarter of the year.

Summer holidays came out on top with over two thirds (62 percent) of agents estimating that their customers are booking ahead this year compared to last. Easter breaks were also being snapped up earlier this year, with half (50 percent) of agents estimating that their customers are booking ahead this year compared to 2005.