British families are rushing to book winter holidays in the sun despite soaring prices.
In a trading update, travel giant Tui said bookings at its UK arm for winter breaks overseas are up 9 per cent on pre-Covid levels.
The surge in demand has come despite the average price of such holidays being 22 per cent higher than they were before the pandemic.
Hot spots: Among the popular destinations for winter sun are the Canaries, Mexico, Cape Verde and Egypt (pictured)
Among the popular destinations for winter sun are the Canaries, Mexico, Cape Verde and Egypt, Tui said.
It follows a strong summer for Tui despite travel disruption as holidaymakers flocked to the Canaries, the Balearics, Greece and Turkey.
Bookings by British holidaymakers for the summer were up 4 per cent on pre-Covid levels even though prices were up 18 per cent.
But the UK demand was not matched elsewhere with overall bookings for the coming winter at 78 per cent of the equivalent period pre-Covid.
The company also said flight disruptions are still at ‘elevated levels’.
Outgoing chief executive Fritz Joussen said: ‘The trend has been towards higher value or longer holidays with a higher overall holiday budget.’