Consistency and clarity is what’s needed A NOTE FROM THE EDITOR


The introduction of the EU’s Entry/Exit System at the weekend passed without any obvious hiccups, which will have been a relief for many. The system is being rolled out gradually over the next six months and won’t be properly stress-tested until significant numbers are travelling, so it will be interesting to see if the forthcoming half-term and Christmas breaks highlight any issues. But for agents and operators keen to avoid negative sentiment and maintain short-haul bookings in a market already showing signs of tightening, the lack of “travel chaos” headlines will have been welcome. As we have reported in recent months, continued strong demand is undoubtedly being tempered by some uncertainty – as evidenced by


a later-booking market and a need to stimulate sales with strong price and value messages. And with the Autumn Budget looming, a need for consistency and clarity and a desire to avoid additional logistical challenges is entirely understandable. If some expert analysts’ views are correct, one area in which the trade could receive clarity


is Atol reform, with growing speculation that the Civil Aviation Authority may be cooling on the need to press ahead (page 5). Abta has been among the industry bodies that have consistently questioned the need for reform. If the CAA now concurs, then many of the association’s members will breathe a sigh of relief that the prospect of additional red tape, complexity and cost is removed from their planning for what looks set to be a challenging 2026.


s Lucy Huxley, editor-in-chief, Travel Weekly Group CONTENTS NEWS COVER photo


Carmen Bullen, Personal Travel Consultants, Hays Travel; Abta chief executive


Mark Tanzer; Matt Callaghan, easyJet holidays; Katherine


Watson, The Holiday Village; and Craig Goodridge (front), Craig Goodridge Travel


pages 10 & 48 Photo: AGS Photography/Steve Pearcy


FRONTLINE agent diary


Sharon Thompson: ‘How tiny am I?’ 22 Your Stories


Michaela Johnston and Denise Logue, L&J World Travel, Northern Ireland 24


FRONT COVER AND THIS PAGE: Steve Dunlop; Georg Roske; Shutterstock/JMontes


travelweekly.co.uk FOLLOW US: @travelweekly


US shutdown sparks half-term concern 4 Kuoni hails trade growth on fresh focus 4 Experts voice doubts about Atol reform 5 MSC reshuffle; Weiss to leave Virgin 6 Apprentice reunion; Oceania restructure 8 conference report The Travel Convention, Majorca comment


10 Steve Dunne: AI harms critical thinking 12 NEWS YOU CAN USE


Club Med, MSC, Audley, Iberostar 15 Intrepid Travel, Latin Routes


Tui, Fred Olsen, Riviera, Ambassador 18 16


WHAT LUCY DID THIS WEEK


OCo-hosted a fantastic group of agents in China who won Royal Caribbean’s Fortune Awaits competition and got to experience this amazing destination.


OMade final plans for our next Inspiring Women Lunch, featuring the MD and editor of Good Housekeeping.


ODid mountains of washing in a 24-hour turnaround between Abta’s Travel Convention and Shanghai!


close-up Auria, Riviera, Hays, Ambassador


competitions Win a cruise, shoes and a Lapland trip 29


DESTINATIONS FAMILY HOLIDAYS Maldives: A magical island stay at Finolhu provides a bonding experience for mother and daughter 30


Winter: Six of the best sun, snow and sea destinations for family escapes latin america


37


Galápagos Islands: It’s not only about the wildlife – discover the oft-overlooked arts, crafts and culture of the archipelago’s residents 40


BUSINESS NEWS Analysis of Atol and PTR reforms:


26


›Why have both processes slowed? 46 Booking.com; Delta; Riyadh Air


47 travelweeklyuk


Overview of The Travel Convention 48 @travelweeklyuk


16 OCTOBER 2025 3


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