NEWS


HIGH-FLYERS: A team of travel industry professionals has raised more than £24,000 for Reuben’s Retreat with a skydive organised in partnership with Virgin Voyages. A total of 21 people were due to jump from 15,000ft at Black Knights Skydiving Centre in Lancaster on Saturday but only 12 were able to do so due to strong winds, with the other nine set to return another day. Virgin Voyages sales director SJ Walker, who was able to jump, said: “The sense of camaraderie on the day was amazing despite the weather, and the skydive was exhilarating. It felt great doing something like that while raising money for a fantastic cause.” Reuben’s Retreat founder Nicola Graham (pictured, front right) said she was “thrilled” with the sum raised. To donate, visit givengain.com/event/skydive-2025.


Anti-tourism protests spark sales fears but late bookings still strong


Juliet Dennis and Ella Sagar


Concerns about overtourism protests in resorts this summer are increasing as the trade reports a surge in price-driven late sales. Protests took place over the


weekend in Barcelona, Granada, Palma, Ibiza, Lisbon, Venice, Genoa, Palermo, Milan and Naples. A spokesperson for


and it simply enforces the perception that holidaymakers are not welcome. It worries people, simple as that. “If people are reading about


anti-tourism protests potentially targeting them on holiday, it’s going to make them think twice.” Jet2 has warned “successive


Barcelona anti-tourism organisation ABDT said protests would continue but stressed no joint action was planned this summer despite campaigners across southern Europe pledging “co-ordinated” action under the Set Alliance group. Jet2holidays chief executive Steve


Heapy shared renewed fears that protests and media reports could hit bookings as travel agents reported increased concerns from clients. He said: “Media coverage has ramped up over the past 24 hours


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governments for many years” about the issue, he said, adding: “The unfettered rise in unlicensed tourism is the primary driver behind the protests we saw last weekend.” Agents said the protests


were starting to affect


consumer sentiment. Ryan Lambton, a Hays Travel


personal travel consultant, said: “I’ve had a few customers message [to say they] are now reluctant to book.” Karl Douglas, co-owner of


Beverley Travel, said: “We’ve had people saying, ‘We don’t want to go somewhere we’re not wanted’.” Caroline Thorne, head of travel at East of England Co-op Travel, said


TV news reports had led to protests cropping up in sales conversations more than the escalating tensions in the Middle East following the start of the Israel-Iran conflict. “The fact they could be in the


middle of a protest, or be told to go home, has been more of a talking point than the fighting,” said Thorne. Sandra Mutter, director at Andara


Travel, agreed: “I’ve just taken two new Dubai enquiries and I’m quoting for a Jordan trip, which the client still wants to go on. The Majorca protests seem to have had more of an impact.” Abta director of industry relations


Susan Deer said the association was geared up to assist agents after stories about protests hit the news. Tourist boards for Spain and


Portugal said they were working hard to ease peak season overtourism by promoting lesser-known regions and longer-duration stays off peak. Manuel Butler, UK director at


the Spanish Tourist Office, said the destination remained “committed”


to ensuring holidaymakers felt “welcomed and inspired”. The protest fears come as late


bookings continue to rise, just weeks ahead of the key school summer holiday, driven by operator discounting. Advantage Travel Partnership


commercial director John Sullivan said the share of bookings for travel in the next 12 weeks had risen week on week, signalling increased demand for last-minute trips. But he stressed: “Average booking


values increased significantly, not only versus the previous week but also the same week last year. So, while operators have deployed tactical promotions, we’re not seeing this impact the selling price point.” Paula Gleeson, head of business


and commercial at Seaside Travel, said clients were now asking to depart “as soon as the next few days”. “Prices are still very competitive


so customers are securing really good deals, which in turn means we’ve had to discount less,” she added.


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