The looming Brexit deadline is not affecting Manx residents’ holiday plans according to two island travel agents.

Despite reports in the UK media, Jan Wozniak from Freedom Travel and Rikki Dunnage from Island Travel told the Courier that business in the island was strong and Europe remained a top destination for holidaymakers.

The two Douglas-based travel agents, which are both members of the Association of British Travel Agents.

It says that booking for the 2019 summer season are ’12% up on this time last year’ and that flights will continue to operate even in the event of a ’no deal’ Brexit.

Mr Wozniak said that, last week, the most popular holidays were Disneyland Paris, Tenerife, Majorca and Lanzarote, with only New York in the top five to not be a European destination, joined only by Turkey, Orlando and Egypt as popular holiday destinations not in Europe.

He added: ’The desire to get a value-for-money break is a growing priority, due to stretched household budgets and the continued weak Pound.

’Package holidays are likely to prove a popular choice in the search for good value, about 60% of people said they had booked a package holiday this year because it was the best option for the price.’

Mr Dunnage, of Island Travel, said that the business had not seen a slowdown in holidays despite Brexit, saying that while the early months of the year are their busiest, this year has continued to grow.

He added: ’Contrary to what may have been reported in the media, booking trend wise, this has been the busiest month we’ve ever had as a company.’

Mr Dunnage said that while there may be a small visa charge, holidays and flights will go ahead as planned.

Both travel have said that in the unlikely event that any flights or holidays are affected, bookings made with them are ABTA and ATOL protected.