Contrary to expectations, 16- to 24-year-olds are more likely to book a holiday through a travel agent than any other age group, according to Abta's 2008 British Holiday Survey.

Fifty per cent of them booked their last break with a travel agent, compared with an average of 35 per cent. And 45 per cent visited an agent in person, rather than booking by phone or online.

'Although this age group has grown up with computers, they're just starting to take holidays without parents and are a bit insecure about travelling,' said Abta spokesman Sean Tipton.

The survey, which questioned 702 people, shows that the 25-44 age group is the most web-savvy, with 68 per cent using the internet to book their last trip. Holidaymakers in Greater London are most likely to book online and those in the West Midlands least.

Concern about financial protection after the collapse of XL Leisure Group seems to be encouraging consumers to use travel agents. Ascent MI's Leisure Travel Monitor shows agents taking 70 per cent of bookings for summer 2009, up 4 per cent on last year, and industry newspaper Travel Weekly found that 20 per cent of customers are more likely to book with an agent since XL's demise.