The number rose by 27% in November compared with the previous month, and by 6% year-on-year.

The figure may illustrate a return to travel following the pandemic now confidence in the industry has been re-established. C&M said the figure was also up 41% on November 2019, pre-pandemic.

The number of vacancies has also increased, up 23% on October, but down 24% on November 2022 when travel was struggling to fill jobs.

Barbara Kolosinska, C&M managing director, said: "The travel industry has been crying out all year for quality candidates, so we’re very pleased to see this big increase in applicants.

"And with more new candidates searching for travel jobs than in any November in the past five years, there is clearly some quality talent out there ready to be snapped up by the right roles."

She added travel firms “will need to ensure they offer attractive salaries and packages – particularly at lower levels – in order to attract talent”.

The month also saw a small fall in C&M’s travel job placements, with the figure dipping by 7% from October. Compared with previous years, last month was down by 56% from both November 2022 and November 2019.