Holiday bookings expected to surge as travel firms brace for busiest day

The Civil Aviation Authority forecasts about 200,000 more package holiday bookings in January compared with last year, and travel firms expect roughly a 5% rise in demand around the industry's 'Sunshine Saturday' booking peak.

Holiday bookings are set to rise today as travel firms prepare for 'Sunshine Saturday', the industry's busiest day of the year. The Civil Aviation Authority has forecast about 200,000 more package holiday bookings in January compared with the same month last year. Firms expect roughly a five percent increase in demand for January and similar growth through to the end of September. The start of the year is a traditional time for people in the UK to plan winter sun breaks. Key details: - The CAA forecast notes about 200,000 more holidaymakers will book trips in January compared with the 4.3 million who did so last year. - Package holiday bookings are expected to increase by around five percent in January. - Holiday companies also expect about a five percent rise in demand for trips in the year to the end of September versus the previous 12 months. - Reported search trends include a 38% rise in searches for Bermuda, an 18% rise for Crete and a 15% rise for Costa Rica; Gozo was reported as having the largest increase in search traffic across the web. - All package holidays sold in the UK are legally required to be ATOL protected; the scheme arranges repatriation for those overseas and reimbursement for some losses when a tour operator collapses. - Rory Boland, editor of Which? Travel, is quoted as urging consumers not to 'feel pressured into booking in a hurry' and to shop around. Summary: The CAA's forecast and travel firm data point to higher booking volumes this January, concentrated around Sunshine Saturday. Undetermined at this time.