The boss of Kuoni has predicted travel will be 90% back to 2019 levels before the end of the spring following the easing of travel restrictions.

Chief executive Derek Jones said the tour operator was already enjoying “increased call volumes and enquiries” about trips for 2022 as confidence increases among consumers.

The operator reported a noticeable jump overnight in calls to its high-street shops and its call centre after the government made the announcement yesterday (January 5) to scrap pre-departure tests in resort and switch from day two PCR to lateral flow tests on arrival in the UK.

Jones said the change in travel testing rules “should be the beginning of the end of Covid as a blocker to international travel”.

He said: “After two years of disruption to travel, it’s time to start getting excited about holidays again at long last.  I predict travel will be 90% back to 2019 levels before the end of spring.”

The company said clients who had already asked for holiday quotes and may have been hesitant about confirming their bookings were now calling up because they had the confidence to go ahead with their travel plans, thanks to the eased restrictions.

Already some large holiday sales, in the region of £30,000 to £50,000, have been confirmed as a result, with the Indian Ocean proving to be the stand-out destination in terms of demand, said the operator.