The optimism some companies and travelers feel going into the summer holidays is a mix of concerns of another Delta-like end to the season as well as hopes that this year just has to end better than the last.

TUI’s summer travel bookings were steadily approaching pre-COVID levels, the European holiday company said on Tuesday, helping it return a portion of the German state aid it received to weather the pandemic fallout.

The world’s largest holiday company said 3.5 million TUI customers had booked a trip for summer 2022, as of Jan. 30, around 72% of the levels seen during the same period in 2019. However, new bookings were at 100% of pre-crisis levels, it added.

TUI, which runs hotels, airlines, cruises and travel agencies, had struggled since pandemic-related restrictions wreaked havoc on the global tourism industry.

As countries gradually lift curbs, demand for travel has improved, underpinning hopes for a recovery.

“We expect a strong summer 2022,” Chief Executive Officer Fritz Joussen said. “There is pent-up demand among customers.”

Travellers are also booking “higher quality” holidays with bigger budgets this summer, the company said.