WAR with Iraq has had a mixed effect on the fortunes of Worcester's travel agents.

While flights to Arab countries have dropped off, European destinations continue to draw large numbers of passengers.

Short-breaks to European cities are "booming", with closer destinations drawing travellers.

North America has dropped off slightly, but, in general, people are still travelling.

Recently, flights have been affected by the deadly SARS virus sweeping Asian countries.

Neil Hall, manager of Thomas Cook, High Street, Worcester, said people using Honk Kong, China and Singapore as 'stop-offs' were asking to change routes.

But he said tour operators and airlines were being "very adult and grown-up" about it.

"They are being very flexible and changing peoples' itineraries for them," he said.

"They understand travellers want the best local factors and are re-routing them and even letting them change airlines."

He said there had been a shift to shorter trips, especially to Western Europe, with Paris, Amsterdam, Rome, Barcelona and Lisbon all doing well.

"There are some cracking prices to Western European cities out of Birmingham."

He said there had been a "subtle shift" away from Arab countries and Turkey since the war began.

"Even though Turkey's resorts are on the opposite side of the country to Iraq, people are asking for destinations away from places where they perceive there to be more of a risk. That has affected Turkey and a lot of the Arab countries."

Jonathan Blizard, owner of JMB Travel Consultants, Powick, Worcester, agreed European cities were doing well.

He said North America had "died", but it was difficult to isolate the reason.

"There has been a general decline in the economy anyway.

"It's hard to identify what's due to the war and what's due to the economy.

"I think people are going to places closer to home so they can get back quickly if something happens."

He said once the war actually started, bookings for the company, which specialises in opera and music festival tours, picked up.

"Once the war was underway, it was as if people thought: 'We might as well get on with it'. It was the not-knowing that stalled people."

Sam Duffett, from Plane Journeys, in Barbourne, Worcester, agreed there was an attitude of "live for today".

Apart from some routes to Arab countries being cancelled by the airlines, it was "business as usual".

"People have become braver since September 11," said Mrs Duffett. "Europe is as strong as ever, with City Breaks very popular, as well as Spain, Barbados and the Canaries.

"When September 11 happened, people panicked. But nothing happened then, and now people think: 'Hang it all, I'm going to enjoy myself and what happens, happens'."