UK tour operator Thomson Holidays and rival company Cosmos are reviewing the role of resort reps.

Both companies could decide to scrap them for late-booking holidays and also for certain tours.

A Thomson spokeswoman said yesterday: "We are looking at the whole area of reps' services and carrying out a review. We have to be relevant to modern holidaymakers and our view is that the kind of full rep service is not as relevant to some people today.

"For example, we now have a 24-hour telephone line that holidaymakers anywhere can ring if they encounter any problems.

"It could be that some low-fare holidays could be repless. The whole holiday experience is moving on and we do not want to be behind the times.''

A Cosmos spokeswoman said: "We are having a think about the role of reps, particularly for late-booking holidays, to cut down on costs."

A reduction in the role of reps would be another move away from the old image of the package holiday.

Those going on some packages now find themselves paying for airline food and for airport transfers to their hotels.