Travellers pitch in for Holidaybreak

HOLIDAYMAKERS may be scared of flying abroad next summer but are still booking self-drive Continental vacations, according to tour operator Holidaybreak.

The owner of Eurocamp and Keycamp said bookings for its camping holidays in the past eight weeks were 'well ahead' of this stage last year. In line with the norm for the firm, about 50% of capacity has been sold.

However, its adventure holidays division had been hit to the tune of about £300,000 by a sales shortfall from the 11 September terror attacks in the US, due mostly to cancellations and a shortfall in last-minute bookings for tours to Nepal and Sri Lanka.

Pre-tax profit was £21.6m in the year to 30 September against £19.8m last time on turnover up from £164.5m to £192.5m. Shareholders collect a total dividend of 18p, against 16p last time.

The terror attacks had an immediate and sudden impact on its UK hotel breaks operation, although trade quickly picked up again. The flood of cheap hotel offers now on the market have, if anything, been a boon for the division.