Cook says more are in the holiday mood

Tour operator Thomas Cook has seen bookings for holidays to the Continent pick up in recent weeks despite the deepening economic malaise.

The group today said its business performance had improved since it last updated the market in February, reinforcing its confidence in meeting City profit forecasts for the year.

Winter bookings have jumped 12% in the last month compared with a year ago as the trend for late bookings strengthened despite selling prices up an average 4%. Overall winter customer numbers are down about 7% on winter 2007-8.

Summer bookings, while also still behind last year, strengthened as well in the past few weeks.

However, Mark Brumby, leisure analyst at Blue Oar Securities, said: "Winter is only a shade behind (and we are running out of winter) but the summer could be a problem.

"It is heartening that bookings have improved in the last four weeks but it is hard, with unemployment now really beginning to bite, to see why this should continue."