A LEADING local tour operator has claimed that the annual family summer holiday is sacred to Northern Ireland holidaymakers - despite the current economic conditions.

Northern Ireland Director of Falcon Holidays Christine Donnelly was speaking at the launch of Falcon's new Summer Sun 2009 programme which went on sale at the end of June.

Falcon, the Province's current Best Package Tour Operator, unveiled a full range of summer holidays for next year, with seven-night lead-in prices of just £1168 for a family of four (two adults and two children) and lots of early booking offers available for holidaymakers booking by July 31, 2008.

Said Christine: "Despite a gloomy economic outlook, the family summer holiday remains an essential part of our busy lifestyles with families wanting to spend quality time together away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life at home."

"Of all the bookings that we will make over the next few weeks, we would expect some 80 per cent of those to be from families. As family specialists, our package holidays enable families to spend that quality time together, with lots of activities for both kids and grown-ups.

"Our Kids Clubs in particular are one of the main reasons why families choose to go on holiday with us every year while thousands of children will book to take part in a range of activities such as swimming lessons, stage schools, soccer schools and other exciting sports activities," she added.

Christine Donnelly believes that the company's new summer 2009 brochures offer excellent value for money holidays and the popular early booking offers will have an even greater significance than usual this year.

"There are a lot of recent reports showing that people in times of economic slowdown will make cutbacks in areas such as eating out, fashion and home improvements, but do not want to cut out their summer holiday and families want to make sure that they get the best value for money," she said.

"There is definitely excellent value for money to be had in our new summer brochures with a lead-in price for a seven-night family holiday (based on two adults and two children) working out at less than £300 per person. I also believe that our early booking offers will play a bigger role than ever this year."

Among the offers for early bookers are adult savings of up to 50 per cent, two kids for only £1, free places for groups, grandparents and children, and discounts for one parent families.

Falcon's unique two-way guarantee also assures holidaymakers of the lowest prices as well as added flexibility when booking before July 31. If within 14 days of booking with Falcon, a customer finds a cheaper identical holiday from another tour operator, Falcon will match the reduced price with a further £10 off per booking.

Falcon's full summer 2009 programme consists of two new brochures - the main Falcon Summer Sun 2009 and more exclusive Premier Hotels & Private Villas 2009 - with a choice of 14 departures flying direct from Belfast International, George Best Belfast City and City of Derry Airports. A further seven departures are available from Dublin to destinations including Zakynthos, Northern Italy and Sharm El Sheikh on Egypt's Red Sea Riviera.

Traditional holiday favourites such as Majorca, Lanzarote, Portugal, Gran Canaria and Costa Dorada are all featured as well as popular Italian destinations Lake Garda and Sorrento, and Turkey and Bulgaria - two countries which offer particularly good value for money.

Having pioneered the Kids Club concept, Falcon now operates 32 clubs across a range of destinations in the summer programme, enabling children to make friends, learn new skills and have fun with the likes of Bob the Builder and Thomas the Tank Engine.

The new Summer 2009 programme also offers seven holiday villages in Majorca, Lanzarote, Turkey, Cyprus, Costa Del Sol, the Algarve and Egypt.

The holiday village, an exclusive concept in which Falcon has invested heavily in recent years, is a purpose-built resort offering families a range of live shows, entertainment and activities with its own bars, restaurants and lagoon-style swimming pools.

For more information on what's available in Falcon's new Summer 2009 programme, or to book a holiday, holidaymakers should click on the Falcon website, call the company direct, or contact your local travel agent.