Data last verified: 13 November 2026. Figures re-checked against their primary sources under the Whito rolling re-verification programme.
Finding
The number of UK travel agency businesses rose 44.3% between 2010 and 2026, from 3,975 to 5,735.
Source: Whito, whito.co.uk/travel-agents/uk-travel-agency-industry, 2026-11-13. Free to quote with a link to this page.
Last Updated on November 13, 2026
Read a short summary
General summary
The UK had 5,735 travel agency businesses registered for VAT or PAYE in March 2026, according to the Office for National Statistics. That is 44.3% up on 2010 (3,975) and 14.6% up on 2021 (5,005). 92.7% employ fewer than ten people. London has the most per head, 19.1 per 100,000 residents. Northern Ireland has the fewest, 3.6.
Bullet points
- 5,735 UK travel agency businesses in March 2026 (ONS).
- Compared with 2010: 44.3% up on 2010 (3,975).
- Compared with 2021: 14.6% up on 2021 (5,005).
- 92.7% employ fewer than ten people.
- Most per head: London, 19.1 per 100,000 residents. Fewest: Northern Ireland, 3.6.
Basic explainer
This page counts travel agency businesses in the UK, using official figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). It shows how the number has changed since 2010, how big the businesses are and where they are based. It also explains ATOL, the licence scheme that protects customers who book flights and package holidays. A business with several branches is counted once.
These summaries were written with AI from this page only. The full page below is the record.
Short answer: the UK had 5,735 travel agency businesses registered for VAT or PAYE in March 2026, according to the Office for National Statistics. That is 44.3% up on 2010 (3,975) and 14.6% up on 2021 (5,005). 92.7% employ fewer than ten people. London has the most per head, 19.1 per 100,000 residents; Northern Ireland has the fewest, 3.6.
This page uses official counts you can rerun yourself, the rules that apply, and Whito’s published research. The regional and change figures are Whito’s calculations. A business with several branches is counted once. Tour operators have their own official category and are not in this count.
The key figures
| Figure | Value | Source and date |
|---|---|---|
| Travel agency businesses (UK, SIC 79110) | 5,735 | ONS UK Business Counts, March 2026 (official statistic) |
| Change since 2010 | +44.3% (from 3,975) | Same dataset (Whito calculation) |
| Change since 2021 | +14.6% (from 5,005) | Same dataset (Whito calculation) |
| Fewer than 10 employees | 5,315 (92.7%) | Same dataset |
| 250 or more employees | 25 | Same dataset |
| Most per head | London, 19.1 per 100,000 residents | Whito calculation, ONS data |
| Fewest per head | Northern Ireland, 3.6 per 100,000 residents | Whito calculation, ONS data |
The count year by year
| Year | Businesses (UK) |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 3,975 |
| 2011 | 3,790 |
| 2012 | 3,890 |
| 2013 | 3,815 |
| 2014 | 4,025 |
| 2015 | 4,335 |
| 2016 | 4,545 |
| 2017 | 4,700 |
| 2018 | 4,560 |
| 2019 | 4,770 |
| 2020 | 4,980 |
| 2021 | 5,005 |
| 2022 | 4,765 |
| 2023 | 4,810 |
| 2024 | 5,150 |
| 2025 | 5,485 |
| 2026 | 5,735 |
The highest count in this period was 5,735 in 2026. The lowest was 3,790 in 2011. Each count is a snapshot taken in March of that year.
How big are travel agency businesses?
| Employees | Businesses | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 0 to 9 | 5,315 | 92.7% |
| 10 to 49 | 320 | 5.6% |
| 50 to 249 | 75 | 1.3% |
| 250 or more | 25 | 0.4% |
| Total | 5,735 |
Source: ONS UK Business Counts, enterprises, SIC 2007 code 79110 “Travel agency activities”, 2026, via Nomis (dataset NM_142_1). Counts are rounded to the nearest 5, so bands may not add exactly to the total.
Where travel agency businesses are based
| Region or nation | 2010 | 2021 | 2026 | Per 100,000 residents | Change 2010 to 2026 | Change 2021 to 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| London | 1,220 | 1,585 | 1,740 | 19.1 | +42.6% | +9.8% |
| South East | 600 | 730 | 805 | 8.3 | +34.2% | +10.3% |
| North West | 425 | 530 | 615 | 7.9 | +44.7% | +16.0% |
| West Midlands | 290 | 375 | 465 | 7.5 | +60.3% | +24.0% |
| Yorkshire and The Humber | 235 | 350 | 410 | 7.2 | +74.5% | +17.1% |
| East of England | 330 | 365 | 430 | 6.5 | +30.3% | +17.8% |
| East Midlands | 170 | 250 | 290 | 5.7 | +70.6% | +16.0% |
| South West | 230 | 280 | 330 | 5.6 | +43.5% | +17.9% |
| Scotland | 190 | 260 | 295 | 5.3 | +55.3% | +13.5% |
| Wales | 120 | 120 | 165 | 5.2 | +37.5% | +37.5% |
| North East | 80 | 95 | 120 | 4.3 | +50.0% | +26.3% |
| Northern Ireland | 85 | 70 | 70 | 3.6 | -17.6% | 0.0% |
| United Kingdom | 3,975 | 5,005 | 5,735 | 8.3 | +44.3% | +14.6% |
Population: ONS mid-2025 estimates. Per-head and change figures are Whito calculations. A business is counted once, where it is registered, which is not always where it works.
What stands out
- London has about 5.3 times as many per head as Northern Ireland (19.1 against 3.6 per 100,000 residents).
- Biggest rise since 2010: Yorkshire and The Humber (+74.5%). Biggest fall: Northern Ireland (-17.6%).
- 11 of the 12 regions and nations have more businesses than in 2021. 0 have fewer and 1 has the same count.
- The data cannot say why counts rise or fall. New firms, firms crossing the VAT threshold, mergers, closures and businesses registering elsewhere all move the count.
Rules that apply
ATOL stands for Air Travel Organisers’ Licensing. It protects customers if a travel organiser stops trading, so they can be brought home or refunded.
Only three groups may advertise and sell air travel in the UK: the airline itself, an ATOL holder, or an exempt person. Exempt persons include an agent for an ATOL holder and a member of an accredited body. A business that is none of these must hold its own ATOL.
The rules also apply to businesses outside the UK that sell to UK consumers. Source: UK Civil Aviation Authority, Do I need an ATOL, read 13 November 2026.
To check a travel agent yourself, see Whito’s guide: how to check a travel agent’s ATOL and ABTA membership.
What Whito’s research adds
Whito’s other travel agent pages: AI-recommended travel agents vs ATOL and ABTA: the check Whito is running, Travel agent fees UK: how agents earn, and what protection your money buys, How to check a travel agent: ATOL, ABTA and the certificate that proves it. This page adds the official business counts, by size, by region and by year.
What we do not know yet
- How many people work in the industry. This page counts businesses, not workers.
- The smallest sole traders. Businesses that are neither VAT registered nor employers are not in the ONS count.
- Turnover. We only publish figures we can check at source.
Method and limits
- Business counts: ONS UK Business Counts, enterprises, SIC 2007 code 79110, all legal statuses, March snapshots for 2010 to 2026, via the Nomis API (dataset NM_142_1), read 13 November 2026.
- Population: ONS mid-2025 estimates via Nomis (NM_2002_1).
- Counts are rounded to the nearest 5 by ONS. Business counts are March 2026; population is mid-2025.
Compare with other industries: see UK trade businesses in 2026: ten industries compared, one table with each count, its date and the change since 2010 and 2021.
Compare with other industries: see how travel agents compare with eleven other UK industries by number of businesses, growth since 2010 and business size, in one table: UK industries compared 2026.
Common questions
How many travel agency businesses are there in the UK?
5,735 registered for VAT or PAYE in March 2026, according to the ONS (SIC 79110). A business with several branches is counted once.
Is the number of travel agency businesses growing?
It rose 14.6% between 2021 and 2026 and rose 44.3% since 2010 (Whito calculation from ONS data).
Which part of the UK has the most travel agency businesses?
By number, London (1,740). Per head, London, with 19.1 per 100,000 residents.
Are most travel agency businesses small?
Yes. 5,315 of 5,735 (92.7%) employ fewer than ten people.
Sources (opened 13 November 2026)
- ONS UK Business Counts via Nomis, NM_142_1: https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/api/v01/dataset/NM_142_1
- ONS mid-2025 population estimates via Nomis, NM_2002_1
- UK Civil Aviation Authority, Do I need an ATOL: caa.co.uk
