A recent business impact survey conducted by The Advantage Travel Partnership has found that 94% of travel agents are reporting an increase in new customers for 2022 and that 63% are optimistic about the year ahead.

The Advantage Travel Partnership found that there was much cause for optimism among agents – even after two turbulent years of pandemic trading and restrictions, as well as the onset of the cost-of-living crisis and the continuing ‘travel chaos’ headlines this summer.

Of the 94% who are seeing an increase in new customers, 30% reported that these new customers fell into the 35–44-year-old age bracket, with 33% of new customers aged between 45-54 and 15% over 60.

Julia Lo Bue-Said, CEO, The Advantage Travel Partnership, said: “As the biggest Travel Agency partnership in the UK, today we stand shoulder to shoulder with all the travel agents across the UK who have had to manage their way through an incredibly tough few years. While the challenges continue, as an industry we face the future with optimism. Travel and holidays remain on the top of the priority list for many millions of Brits and there continues to be a huge post-pandemic, pent-up demand for travel, even though the market is currently hampered by the significant disruption we’re experiencing.”