Brexit-bitten Brits shrug off woes to hit the beaches

0 The holidays giant has seen summer bookings hold firm despite the impact of the weak pound Thomson owner Tui yesterday said British holidaymakers have shrugged off the soaring cost of overseas trips from the Brexit-hit pound as summer bookings held firm.

The group said UK bookings were “as high as the previous year”, while customer numbers lifted 5 per cent in the third quarter thanks to the later timing of Easter.

Tui also cheered strong demand for core European destinations after it switched away from Turkey and upped its group-wide sales outlook for the year. It is expecting annual turnover to rise by more than 3 per cent, while Tui also said it made an underlying profit for the first time over the first nine months of its financial year – a period that traditionally sees seasonal losses.

Boss Fritz Joussen said the group was in“excellent shape ”, adding: “We have significantly reduced the seasonal swing of our business. For the first time, we have delivered a positive operating result for the first nine months.”