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UK Travel Firms Brace for ‘Sunshine Saturday’ as CAA Projects 5% January Booking Rise

Shifts toward quieter or longer‑haul destinations such as Gozo accompany renewed calls to verify ATOL protection before buying.

Overview

  • UK regulators forecast roughly 200,000 more package holiday bookings this January versus the 4.3 million last year, a rise of about 5%.
  • Travel companies say the first weekend of the new year, known as Sunshine Saturday, is set to be one of their busiest single booking days.
  • TravelSupermarket reports Gozo searches up 1,900% year on year and strong gains for Sri Lanka, with data indicating growing interest in longer‑haul travel.
  • On the Beach highlights Egypt as the fastest‑rising hotspot with bookings up about 30% in 2025, while Antalya is predicted to remain a top choice and Tunisia is tipped for growth.
  • ABTA notes more customers are booking further ahead into summer 2026 and even 2027, as the CAA and Which? urge checks for ATOL coverage and caution against rushed decisions.