Economy

Agents record biggest growth in transactions of all sectors in September

Spending with travel agents increased by 9% year-on-year in September, while the numbers of agent transactions increased by 14.6% – the biggest year-on-year growth of any sector last month

Govt urged to place aviation 'at the heart of its economic blueprint for the UK'

Manchester Airports Group chief Ken O’Toole says billions at risk if the sector isn’t prioritised in the government’s new industrial strategy

The pursuit of value, and five other things agents should watch out for in 2025

Consumers pursuit of value, their confidence to book with agents and the spending power of the so-called ‘silver traveller’ market emerged as key talking points at TTG’s Agenda 2024 Autumn Breakfast this week

Positive summer for agents raises hopes of busy peaks period next year

Not Just Travel’s Steve Witt told TTG’s Agenda 2024 Autumn Breakfast he expected peaks 2025 to be the homeworking outfit’s busiest ever

August air fare rise 'second biggest for two decades', says ONS

New Office for National Statistics figures show air fares soaring in August, with the biggest monthly rise since 2001

Advantage chief: ‘We export people, not economic growth – that stays here’

Julia Lo Bue-Said says the travel industry has an opportunity to make a better case for itself under a new government, and spell out to MPs how its economic contribution is primarily in the UK – not overseas

Mark Tanzer: 'The signs are that Labour understands our industry'

Abta’s chief executive tells TTG’s James Chapple why the industry has a more positive message to spread post-Covid, and why he’s looking forward to working with the new government

Fears of massive discounting recede as package prices 'hold'

High prices appear to have put some agents’ clients off last-minute getaways this summer, while others have been prepared to pay the premium for some sun following the Euros, the general election and amid the coolest summer for nearly a decade

Agents continue to outstrip steady retail rebound as sector returns to growth

The retail sector finally returned to growth in August for the first time since March, but agents continue to streak ahead, recording their strongest growth in sales since February

Govt hints at restoring right for under-30s to work in EU travel jobs

The UK government is keen to open talks with Brussels about granting under 30s the right to work in the EU, with reciprocal arrangements for UK businesses to attract EU staff.

Spending with travel agents continues to defy slowdown – Barclays

Barclays Consumer Spend shows spending with travel agents is still increasing, bucking a downward trend in card transactions in July

Abta: 'It’s clear many of the industry’s priorities have been heard'

One month to the day since Labour took power after 14 years in opposition, Abta’s director of public affairs Luke Petherbridge assesses the party’s actions since forming a new government – and what its priorities mean for travel’s prosperity

EasyJet CEO says carrier ‘not feeling rival’s pain’ on pricing

EasyJet’s boss says the airline is not seeing the need to discount this summer, unlike Ryanair, which has signalled it will slash fares for ‘frugal’ passengers

'Our market leaders have tanked package prices, and we're all suffering'

’Package prices in July and August have tanked. Our market leaders are to blame, and we are all suffering,’ writes Sunvil chair Noel Josephides for TTG

‘Wettest summer in a century’ fuelling buoyant lates market

More than a quarter of UK residents (27%) would be tempted to book a last-minute getaway if they could secure a good deal, according to new Abta research

What's driving the resurgent M&A interest in the travel sector?

After the travel industry was forced to all-but shut down during the Covid-19 pandemic, Houlihan Lokey director Thomas Barnard explores the factors driving the industry’s resurgence – and renewed interest in its prospects

Travel bucked lower spending trend during washout June, says Barclays

Consumers stayed away from retailers in June, but the travel sector was buoyed by balance payments before summer breaks, latest Barclays research finds

How to explain this summer's high prices to your clients

More flights and holidays are on sale this summer despite a supposed dip in demand this year, but costs remain steep for those booking an escape. Gary Noakes reports

Travel trade's top priorities for new Labour government revealed

Ahead of the general election, TTG conducted a snap poll of travel trade voting intention and objectives for the next government. James Chapple and Sarah Dennis report

What does travel want – and need – from the next government?

As the country heads to the polls, TTG examines what the major parties have planned for the industry – and what the trade wants from the next government

UK Outbound to meet following general election to plan lobbying strategy

UK Outbound has called a meeting in mid-September to discuss how to make an impact on the new government, saying Westminster’s understanding is poor

Spending on travel continuing to outpace other non-essentials – Barclays

New CEBR and Barclays research says the UK Experience Economy - including holiday purchasing - is bigger than the GDP of Morocco and growing rapidly

UK theme park could be worth £50bn+ to the economy – Universal

According to a Universal economic impact analysis, the project’s net contribution could be of around £35.1 billion over the first 20 years of operation

SPAA spells out demands from new Westminster government

The SPAA has published an election manifesto detailing what it wants from the new government in order to protect and promote the travel industry