RESEARCH suggesting High Street travel agents are losing out to new ways of booking holidays, such as the internet, has met with a mixed reaction from leading Bolton travel companies.

A report by market research company Mintel found that the number of foreign holidays booked through travel agents had remained static since 1999.

Paul Rickard, its director of research, said: "Our research shows that holidaymakers were increasingly going it alone, rather than booking through a big travel agency. The days of the High Street travel agent could be numbered."

But the Co-op Travel superstore at the Burnden Retail Park said customers still liked to walk into a travel agents to browse through brochures and choose a holiday with the help of staff.

Manger Nicola Duffy said the store sold £3.5 million worth of holidays last year and was on course to beat that figure this year.

"People still like to come into the store and browse through the brochures," she said.

"They treat it as an outing and they enjoy the personal contact of discussing what sort of holiday they like. We have access to all the relevant information and can help people look on the web or anywhere else."

But Andrew Dickson, who runs St Andrews Travel, agrees that traditional travel agents are losing out to the internet.

"A huge number of Boltonians have bought places in Spain and they are just booking their flights on the internet even though they could get a better service from a travel agent," he said.

Mr Dickson believes there is a place for the high street shops if they are prepared to change.

St Andrews travel specialises in the luxury end of the market, booking long-haul holidays and cruises, and there has been a 40pc increase in the number of people taking cruises in the last five years.

"People will book cheap holidays themselves, but when they are wanting something special they are coming to us," said Mr Dickson.

Independent Bolton holiday company Travel Counsellors said its figures backed Mintels findings that holidaymakers were turning to new ways of making bookings, such as its home-based consultants.

The company said its 490 consultants had booked nearly 50,000 passengers on holidays worth almost £41 million in the current financial year, a 30 per cent increase on the last financial year.

Managing director Steve Byrne said: "We agree with Mintels research that there has been a marked shift away from booking holidays via traditional travel agencies.

"Most big high street agents will try to sell the customer a traditional holiday, but our consultants have access to leading-edge technology which benefits customers more. For example, they can search all airfare options for the customer in a matter of minutes."