Abta: January 7th is Holiday Day
January 7th has been dubbed Holiday Day by the Association of British Travel Agents (Abta) after record numbers of people booked their summer breaks on this date.After post-Christmas blues as many as 500,000 Brits booked their summer breaks on January 7th, says the Identity and Passport Service (ISP) and Abta, after the reality of being back in the office "hit home".
However, the ISP is urging holiday-hungry Brits to ensure that they have a valid passport, warning that for those applying for their first ever passport the process can take up to six weeks, due to new identity fraud measures.
The Home Office minister Meg Hillier said: "With Christmas festivities at an end, it's the natural time to start looking ahead and planning your summer break.
"As part of that process we are encouraging holidaymakers to check their passport is up-to-date as it now can take up to six weeks for first-time adult customers to get a new passport."
She added that new passports will have enhanced anti-fraud measures such as developed background checks while photos will contain identity chips.
Travel Industry news posted on 09 January 2008
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