TOUR operator First Choice said holidays remained high on the list of consumer priorities, as it reported an increase in summer bookings.

The group, whose brands include Unijet, Falcon and Sovereign, said it was yet to feel any ill-effects from the widely-reported slowdown in household expenditure.

Summer bookings for mainstream holidays were up 11 per cent and travellers snapped up 33 per cent more specialist trips for the peak season than a year ago.

Activity holidays were also 8 per cent more popular this summer as the group cut losses from its range of winter breaks for the third consecutive year.