Activity breaks on the up - 09-Jun-04.

Activity on the up - 09-Jun-04.: "British holidaymakers are increasingly on the lookout for more active holidays � with operators reporting increased interest in �activity� breaks. The Times today quotes a report by the market research organisation Mintel, which states that 15 million activity holidays were taken by UK tourists in 2003. This represented some 10.4 per cent of all holidays taken and an increase of 12.5 per cent over the previous six years.

The newspaper states that three quarters of those trips were taken in the UK � but it does illustrate a trend away from more traditional �sun, sea and sand breaks� � and, the newspaper reports, the biggest percentage growth was for overseas trips. The trend appears to have been noted by First Choice, which yesterday released its figures for the six months to April 30. The Times reports that the operator�s overall figures were roughly in line with last year�s, while its activity division was up eight per cent on 2003."