European travel agents defy Internet threat

(FILES) This file photo taken on March 10, 2016 shows a woman chating with visitors at the booth of Iran at the International Tourism Fair ITB in Berlin. The doomsayers were 100 percent certain that the Internet would be the death of travel agents. But in Europe's three biggest economies, the industry is still very much alive and kicking as consumers prefer expert advice and a friendly face when it comes to booking their holidays. / AFP PHOTO / TOBIAS SCHWARZ / TO GO WITH AFP STORY BY MARIE JULIEN

BERLIN: The doomsayers were 100% certain that the Internet would be the death of travel agents. 

But in Europe’s three biggest economies, the industry is still very much alive and kicking as consumers prefer expert advice and a friendly face when it comes to booking their holidays.