Number of bookings through agents on the decline

Holidaymakers are "turning their backs on the traditional high-street
travel agent in favour of booking trips online", reports
sundayherald.com.

"Between 2000 and 2004 there was an 11% drop in the number of bookings
made at travel agents, with only 47% of overseas holidays now being
reserved through a high street travel agency, according to figures from
market researchers Mintel. Many people book breaks by phone, and just
31% of overseas trips were booked in person in 2004," says the report.
"The research shows that traditional sun, sand and sangria package
holidays are the main type of trip booked on the high street, with just
one in five domestic trips booked at travel agencies."

Richard Cope, international travel analyst at Mintel, reportedly said
consumer confidence in the internet was driving people away from booking
in person. "Mintel's research shows that almost one in five UK holidays
are now booked online, with consumers becoming increasingly confident
about making their own travel arrangements."

Mintel figures also indicated that, overall, more holidays are being
taken. In 2004 65% of British people went on holiday, compared to 62% in
2000. Some 44% of holidaymakers now take more than one holiday a year,
up 14% since 2000. Altogether, Britons took 43 million holidays abroad
in 2004.