Kuoni chief executive Derek Jones said: “Whilst there is still so much uncertainty around plans to open borders, the 14-day quarantine and social distancing, people are telling us that they’d rather plan ahead for next year and save to make the trip an extra special one, upgrading what they’d normally do.”
 
“It’s clear from the conversations we’re having with customers and booking patterns that many people will opt to stay closer to home within the UK this year as they see overseas travel in the near future as being too risky.”

The operator said more than half its 2021 bookings are for the Maldives, while 6 June had seen its best day for forward bookings since lockdown began.

“Bookings for the Maldives are outperforming every other destination we sell around the world, currently accounting for 56% of bookings for 2021. The Maldives has always been our best seller but it’s soaring even further ahead right now,” said Jones. 

The operator said the Maldives was followed in the 2021 league by Mauritius, Thailand, Spain and India.

“We are seeing much more variety in bookings as the weeks go on – other destinations we’ve booked over the past week for travel next year include Tanzania, Barbados, St Lucia, Dubai, Borneo, Bali and Kenya,” added Jones.