The price of seats on flights from UK airports such as Stansted, Luton and Gatwick are being slashed in an effort to drive up demand for holidays in 2012.

Tour operators and travel agents say they are offering major discounts to travellers for the winter period right up until the last minute.

Holidaymakers have been reluctant to commit to getaways but tourist companies are hoping that they can be tempted by the great deals on offer.

Managing director at Jewel in the Crown Holidays, Platon Loizou, said: “In a normal year, it is difficult to get anything for Christmas and new year at this stage.

“But this year we were selling 19-night bed and breakfast packages in Goa up to the last minute from £534, with two-week flight-only deals departing December 31 from £374.

“We’re selling seats at crazy prices to cut our losses. Basically, consumers are so punch-drunk at soaring living costs, fuel prices, rail fares and day-to-day living that they are reluctant to spend on travel, both short-haul and long-haul.

“Prices must fall by about £200 to get people interested; 14 nights this winter in Goa, originally £725, is selling around £525. In summer, two weeks in a hotel in Marmaris, Turkey, starts at £299.”

Copyright © Press Association 2011

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