Online travel booming in the US

An increasing number of people in the US are opting to purchase holidays online, according to new research.

Consumer analyst comScore Networks has found that there were 150 million visitors to travel websites during the course of last year – an increase of 35 per cent when compared with 2005.

The study also found that total online travel revenues exceeded $60 million (£32 million) during this period.

Sara Stevens, director of comScore travel solutions, comments: "The web is extraordinarily well-suited to helping consumers make travel plans and increases in home broadband penetration should continue to fuel growth in the online travel sector."

Another trend identified in the research was that people are arranging their holidays with less time to spare. The study found that "only" 28 per cent of respondents begin planning their holiday more than two months before their departure date.

In addition, comScore also states that the internet is "perfectly positioned" to help people find the best deal in a "time efficient manner".

The research comes as eMarketer states online consumer and business travel sales will hit $78 million in the US this year.

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