TUI Travel shares drop despite upbeat forecast The FTSE 100 leisure giant, which owns the Thomson and First Choice brands, said operating profit in the three months to June 30 improved by £13m to £87m compared to the same period in 2012, although this figure strips out the costs of aircraft returning empty from destinations at the beginning and end of each season. "Given our current position we remain very confident of achieving full-year underlying operating profit growth of at least 10pc on a constant currency basis and we are well positioned to continue to deliver our five-year growth roadmap," said TUI's long-standing chief executive, Peter Long. In the UK, summer holiday sales are up 11pc compared to 2012, with average selling prices also 7pc ahead, despite fears that better weather in Britain this year might have encouraged more people to stay at home. TUI's total number of customers in Germany has fallen by 5pc, although sales are 2pc ahead in that market. France continues to prove difficult for a number of tour operators as households choose to holiday at home to save money and tourists shun previously popular destinations in North Africa. Sales of summer holidays in France are down 20pc, TUI said. The company has cut the number of holidays on offer in France by 19pc but the group said trading across the Channel "remains challenging." It is reducing the number of package holidays to North Africa, as continued political unrest in countries such as Egypt puts off tourists. Mr Hollins of Investec pointed out that total mainstream holiday bookings across TUI's divisions are 4pc ahead of 2012 but this figure has come down from 6pc growth at the company's half-year results in May.