07.04.08
Holidaymakers who have had bad experiences booking flights and accommodation separately online, or who know someone who has, are returning to package holidays or traditional travel agents, a spokesman for Cardiff Airport has said.
For several years tour operators have been in decline, as customers use the internet to book flights - typically with budget airlines - and hotels direct. This allows holidaymakers to book the departure dates and times they want, with the hotel they want, for the length of stay they want, and usually to save money in the process.
However, there are claims now that people are becoming disillusioned with DIY holidays for a number of reasons, including the complexity of getting flights, accommodation and transfers to match up, a lack of reliable online feedback about hotels and a lack of support if things go wrong. If a flight is cancelled, passengers may receive a refund for the flights, but not for hotels, car hire, a cruise or other items booked independently to go with them, for example.
Peter Phillips, Cardiff Airport’s head of marketing, said: 'The packaged holiday market is reversing its decline. It appears to us that some people are returning to the idea of getting everything at a one-stop shop.’
The Association of British Travel Agents (Abta) also reports that the latest figures available showed an increase in package holidays. In the first 9 months of 2007 15.4 million package holidays were sold – up from 15.3 million in the first 9 months of 2006.
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