Thomson absorbs Spanish VAT increase

Thomson and First Choice have absorbed the increase in Spanish tourism VAT to prevent its holiday prices going up.

The travel companies will not add extra charges following the rise, as it announced it will fly 46,000 customers on holiday this weekend. With schools breaking up for the summer holidays tomorrow, the Balearics, Turkey, Cape Town and Mexico have been top-sellers for the companies, with North African destinations seeing a boost.

Its trends have also seen more people take seven-night holidays, attributing to 67% of late booking sales last week.

“I think all this rain has certainly had an effect on the way people are booking late holidays as those who were perhaps thinking of staying in the UK this summer have suddenly thought, actually let’s get away and spend some quality time together in the sunshine,” said Steve Perridge, general manager of late trading at Thomson and First Choice. “In terms of our most popular hotels both the four Sensatori resorts for Thomson and the 11 Holiday Villages for First Choice have done very well this summer. I think people are looking to spend their hard earned cash on holidays they know they will deliver and which have their meals and lots of activities included”. 

By Amanda Greenwood, 19 July 2012, Thursday 3:11 PM