The older demographic and groups market is returning to book holidays, according to Der Touristik UK’s new interim chief executive.

Francis Torrilla, who has taken over from Derek Jones following his recent departure, said sales for Kuoni UK and its specialist brands continued to be strong for 2022.

He said the group was now seeing the return of more mature customers and groups, which have been slower than the younger demographic to book post-Covid.

“We are seeing it come back,” said Torrilla, who estimated sales of holidays to the mature and groups sector were now around 70% of 2019 levels.

“What we have noticed is sales of destinations such as India have picked up quite a bit for us and that is both a groups and older demographic market.”

He said trading was “in a good position” despite the current drought causing low river levels and impacting some river cruises.

The extended cap on passenger numbers at Heathrow was also an issue, he said, as it could hamper sales efforts. “The problem is that it might restrict what we have to sell,” he said.

Looking ahead to sales for 2023, Torrilla there were “winners and losers” in destination terms.

While Africa and the Maldives (pictured) were selling well, Sri Lanka sales were suffering due to July’s reinstatement of the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office advice against all but essential travel due to a “severe economic crisis”.

“We are trying to keep Sri Lanka on sale. We have got a direct mailer going out with Sri Lanka itineraries. We have got partners in Sri Lanka that we have worked with for many years,” he said.