The group managing director of luxury tour operator Abercrombie & Kent has said it has seen a “strong pick up in enquires” since the start of the year.

Kerry Golds praised the relaxation of testing rules in England and said the desire to travel is “firmly there”.

Earlier this month prime minister Boris Johnson removed pre-departure testing for those travelling to England and announced that arrivals will only be required to take a rapid lateral flow, rather than the more-expensive PCR test required previously. Self-isolation on return until a negative result is given has also been scrapped.

“We have seen a strong pick up in enquiries since the start of the year, helped by removing some of the testing requirements,” Golds said.

“Whilst consumers are still concerned with ensuring their holiday plans are protected should the unexpected occur, the desire to travel is still firmly there.”

Popular destinations for the operator include Egypt, which will enjoy several notable events this year, including the launch of the new Death on the Nile film in February and the long-awaited opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum.

The Maldives, the Caribbean and Central America - most notably Costa Rica and Mexico - also continue to see demand.

“Within Europe, Italy is back on the map for many of our clients this year, with some of our large villas already selling out for the summer,” Golds added.

The operator’s sister brand Cox & Kings has also seen an increase in group tour holidays, with the Middle East and Sri Lanka being the standout regions. 

“We have also seen clients planning for South America towards the end of 2022, with Peru and Chile top of the list," Golds said. 

"Our group sizes are much smaller than many other operators, proving to be an important factor when travelling in Covid times."