Package Holidays

Package Holidays

The first person to organize a package holiday is credited to Thomas Cook. Thomas Cook organized it in 1841 with a trip from Leicester to Loughborough by train.

The first package holiday as we all know it  today was in 1949 and this was organized by Vladimir Raitz. Vladimir took 32 passengers to Corsica on a DC3 airplane. The cost of this holiday was £32.50. The package included accommodation in tents, return flights, transfers and full board. He also established Horizon Holidays in the same year and by the end of the 1950s the company had grown to be one of the UK's major tour operators.

The major growth came in the 1970s, as people became more prosperous and keen to see new places. Currency restrictions were lifted in the 1970's. Before, tourists were allowed to take only £50 in sterling out of the country. This led to an increase in package holidays as tourists could now take more spending money with them.