Holidaymakers opting for a luxury Christmas after summer break cancellations

Kuoni said bookings for December departures to Barbados are 30% up on the same point last year, while demand for the Maldives has increased by 20%.

Safari holidays to Kenya, Tanzania and South Africa are also proving popular, driving a 19% rise in bookings for Africa.

Barbados is the only one of those five countries from which people returning to or arriving in the UK are not required to self-isolate for 14 days due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Derek Jones, chief executive of Kuoni's parent company DER Touristik, said: "Inquiries are really picking up for December holidays and over the past few weeks we've taken some big family bookings for the Christmas break.

"Lots of people are opting to take their main summer holiday closer to home this year as they still see overseas travel as being too risky in the short term.

"But after months spent at home with television and home cooking, it seems people are looking for a complete change to this year's festivities.

"Many of our long-haul destinations are at their best in December, so it's an ideal time to travel to places such as the Maldives, the Caribbean and Africa."

Mr Jones explained that although Christmas is among the most expensive periods of the year to take a holiday, many hotels are offering savings to attract customers after the collapse in demand for travel caused by the coronavirus crisis.

"The year 2020 will always be remembered," he added. "Lots of us will be glad to see the back of it, and maybe heading to the sun for a special Christmas holiday this year will be a way to put it behind us and see in the New Year with hope and optimism."