With so many tour operators and airlines going bust, and thousands of passengers either stranded overseas or thousands of pounds out of pocket, it seems that many holiday makers are choosing to book their travel directly and independently.

A recent report from ABTA has found that more people than ever before are booking directly, not only for a cheaper deal but for security too. As a result, there is a genuine fear that high street travel agents will become a thing of the past, as bookings move away from the high street and steer towards online, telephone or direct bookings.

The report has found that four out of five bookings have moved away from the traditional travel agent route, with 25% of travel plans being booked directly, with travel agents being used solely as a source of collecting brochures.

Readily available online are the holiday extras, making independent, direct bookings easy. No longer is direct travel a luxury of the brave, as in previous years many travellers opting out of direct bookings for fears of not being able to get from the airport to their accommodation for example. A particular concern of the elderly or those with mobility problems. Now the Internet is overrun with holiday extras to choose from – airport transfers, even excursions are bookable in advance and online.

As the global recession takes an even firmer hold, and the annual holiday isn’t a foregone conclusion, many travellers are clutching tightly to their purse strings. If a holiday is only affordable by means of booking direct then so be it. The big question is how high street travel agents will cope, and of course survive, if more travellers opt for cheaper direct travel. In over 10 years the number of high street travel agents has reduced by a whopping 50%!

Advice to survive the online world is to specialise in cruise travel, an area of travel having experienced increased popularity, as well as other specialist holidays like adventure holidays. Otherwise, ABTA has warned travel agents that they need to ‘change or become extinct’, RIP Travel Agents?