Cautious UK holidaymakers hold off on overseas trips until autumn

Travel companies say foreign holiday market flat until October, as domestic summer bookings hit all time high

Lockdown weary Britons who are desperate for some Mediterranean sun are ignoring summer holiday deals and instead setting their sights on an October escape, according to UK tour operators.

Thomas Cook said 40% of its recent holiday bookings are for October onwards – compared with about 10% at the start of January. Head of communications David Child said bookings were primarily for beach holidays in the Canaries, Turkey, Greece and Egypt, as well as city breaks to New York and Las Vegas.