The number of tour operators adding surcharges to published prices has jumped from 15 to 23 over the past fortnight, with most blaming the strength of the euro against the pound for their woes.

Under package-holiday regulations, operators can demand surcharges of up to 10% of the holiday value, provided they have reserved the right to do so in the small print and have absorbed the first 2% of any price rise. The consumer must pay up or forfeit whatever has been paid towards the cost of the trip.

The list now comprises Algarve Agency, All Leisure Holidays, Bales Worldwide, the Camping and Caravanning Club, China Travel Service, Discover the World, Equity School Travel, Golf Holidays Abroad, Good News Holidays, Hargreaves & Nurse, Holidays 4U, Just Sardinia, Noble Caledonia, Palmers Travel, Pavilion Tours, ScotTravel, Solmar Villas, Sports Executive Travel, Stowaway Travel, STS School Travel Service, TJM Travel, UK Holiday Group and Wasteland Ski.

“It’s mainly our smaller members who are surcharging, because they can’t play the currency markets,” said the Association of British Travel Agents (Abta). It added that the list could get longer because “most tour operators have reserved the right to surcharge”.

Alistair McLean, of Activities Abroad, says there is no excuse for surcharges. “In a year when the family holiday will be the first luxury to go if the credit crunch bites, what sort of message are we sending by imposing surcharges?” he said. “Now is a time to nurture clients - not alienate them.”

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