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Johan Lundgren says Tui has a ‘double


diversification of risk’. He


is pictured with BBC


broadcaster Tanya Beckett


Brexit blamed for ‘waning demand for EU bookings’


UK bookings for EU destinations this summer reported to be down by 4.6%. Ian Taylor reports from the WTTC Summit in Seville


Uncertainty about Brexit has led “UK holidaymakers to turn away from the EU” and EU bookings to Britain to “plunge”.


That is according to industry


analyst ForwardKeys, which last week reported: “Summer bookings from the UK to EU countries are lagging 4.6% on last year.” The figures were released as prime minister Theresa May sought a fresh postponement of Britain’s EU leave date. Britain was


64travelweekly.co.uk11 April 2019


poised to exit the EU this Friday, as Travel Weekly went to press. However, EU leaders were due to meet on Wednesday to discuss postponing the leave date. May sought an extension to June 30, but EU Council president Donald Tusk appeared set to recommend a flexible extension up to April 2020. Industry figures fear the uncertainty threatens this summer’s outbound market (Travel Weekly, April 4.


ForwardKeys insights vice-


president Olivier Ponti presented the latest flight-booking data at the World Travel & Tourism Council summit in Seville, reporting: “EU bookings to the UK slowed considerably in the first uarter of this year, [and] air bookings from the EU to the UK plunged.” However, Ponti noted: “UK inbound [travel] appears unaffected for Easter, with bookings ahead 7.7% and major markets – Germany, the Netherlands, France, Sweden, Spain and Italy – all showing growth.” Easter fell at the end of March


CONTINUED ON PAGE 62


PICTURES: JAMES BARKE


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