Holiday giant TUI bets on UK and German Covid recoveries to save its summer holidays

World’s biggest tour operator plans to offer 80% of its usual holiday programme this summer betting on a surge in demand – particularly from Britain – as that country’s Covid-19 vaccination programme gathers pace

Greece is likely to be the first destination to reopen as early as April after the tourism-reliant Mediterranean state indicated it intended to let in people with proof of vaccination.

Holiday giant TUI has stuck with plans to offer 80% of its usual holiday programme this summer, betting on a surge in demand – particularly from Britain – to fill hotel rooms as that country’s Covid-19 vaccination programme gathers pace.

The world’s biggest tour operator said that while current sales are at only 56% of 2019 levels, prices are higher and customers are sitting on savings, with money to spend, suggesting there’ll be a late surge in bookings as more people get jabs.