Richard Forde, head of trade sales for the operator, said the past few weeks have been "full of positive news" for the industry, and predicted 2022 "to be much closer to what we were seeing in 2019".

"The UK programme has always been popular with customers and having run these for many years put us in a fortunate position of being able to operate these normally during 2022," he added.

Forde said new tours added to the company’s portfolio, such as the Liverpool – Beatles & Merseybeat and Dorset – The Jurassic Coast itineraries, helped "make the programme a success".

"Reflecting on last year, we are really pleased to have delivered so many tours for customers in what was a tricky year operationally for the industry," Forde continued.

"It really is a cause for celebration as an industry and for our customers. They are just so delighted to reconnect with the world."

The operator said its UK programme, which has been running for more than 30 years, was the biggest factor in enabling holidays for their customers in 2021, accounting for more than 60% of their passengers in 2021.