Europeans have set aside lockdowns and have bet that by the second year of summer travel, the coronavirus pandemic will not be quashed. Millions of vacationers, particularly in the United Kingdom, have already scheduled trips and are paying even more than they did before the coronavirus struck, according to Touristik Union International (TUI), despite doubts about the pandemic. The world’s largest tour operator said in a study on February 9, 2021 that 2.8 million customers are already booked for summer 2021, a 44 percent decline compared to the same point in 2019, but more than a fifth higher than the total number of guests between mid-June and October 2020.

Last month’s average daily bookings were up 70% compared with December, TUI said. The company, which is based in Germany, only needs small down payments on some of its packed holidays in the summer of 2021 and, on trips booked prior to February 9, provides free modifications up to 21 days before departure. But it does not plan to have all its trips discounted, according to CEO Fritz Joussen. Joussen said on an income call that the average booking price rose 20 percent compared to summer 2019, fuelled by a higher number of bundled flights and hotel deals and demand for more lavish holidays after a year in which many people stayed home.