Eurostar International, the UK-based high-speed rail service between the UK and mainland Europe, has reported an increase in sales from leisure travel for the three months ended march 31, 2012.
Although there has been a growth of 4 percent in leisure travel, to 2.24 million passengers in the first three months of 2012, compared to 2.15 million in the first three months of last year, the company has reported stagnation in its business travel figures.
Sales revenue for Eurostar has grown by 7 percent to £211 million in the 2012 first quarter, compared to £197 million in the same quarter of 2011, predominantly due to the growth in leisure travel.
The company chief executive officer, Nicolas Petrovic, said, ‘The year got off to a strong start with sales revenues and passenger numbers on the up. Our core destinations continue to be a big draw for passengers but we have also seen particularly good take-up of our Amsterdam fares as passengers are increasingly keen to try out new leisure destinations by high speed rail.’
The railway company is also sponsoring the 2012 Olympic Games, and is hosting a one-day summer arts festival, Traction, in London on July 14, 2012, as part of the London 2012 Festival.
Petrovic said, ‘We are gearing up for an exciting summer, as the nation counts down to the London 2012 celebrations. Bookings for the June bank holiday weekend are looking strong with thousands of visitors coming to London to enjoy the unique pageantry of the Queen’s Jubilee.’
