A SALTCOATS travel agent will celebrate a lifetime of providing holidays as he’s set to mark 34 years in business this week.

Fraser McCallum is all too aware of the challenges the travel industry faces with Brexit looming - but the owner of Frasers Travel on Dockhead Street has hailed his dedicated customers and the next generation.

The business was started by Fraser in 1986 and then in 1990 he was joined by his wife Julie, who he met on a travel agents course in South Africa.

The travel expert has noticed the world get smaller, after starting out 55 years ago in an industry where it was impossible to get a direct flight from Scotland to Spain.

Now he sees destinations like Dubai - once nothing more than open desert become as common as holidaying to Blackpool.

For Fraser it’s all about passing on his expertise to anyone who comes through his doors.

On the weekend of Friday, January 17 and Saturday 18 he is looking forward to celebrating the shops 34th year by welcoming old and new faces to the business.

Fraser told the Herald: “All the regulars wait for this day because there’s always a wee bit of a buzz about the place.

“It’s great to still be here, Saltcoats is wonderful. We’ve seen many problems, Brexit being the latest but we still enjoy what we do.”

Fraser has sent hundreds of families off to catch some sunshine or enjoy a trip across the world, but one person in particular who is fondly remembered.

He told us how many years ago a former prisoner of war in his 80s entered the shop wanting to travel back to the remote island in Malaysia were he was held captive.

Fraser said: “There was a guy who was a prisoner of war in the Far East and he wanted to go back to the island that he had been held.

“The flights were easy enough but I had to get a bed for him in a hut and get a transfer over to the island because it was basically uninhabited. That was a booking from a long time ago, but it was special.”

Looking ahead one of the challenges the business will face is the widespread use of online travel websites, but Fraser insists there’s no substitute for experience.

He added: “We’re now seeing a third generation of customers, we’re seeing original customers grandchildren come in, it’s just pleasing to see people coming back and bumping into folk in the street. It’s all about providing a personal service.

“Folk think that because they’ve got a computer that they’re travel agents. I’ve got 55 years of experience, so I’ve got 55 years of advice to give folk.”

Fraser is helped out by a team of staff who all help make the business what it is.

He added: “This is a husband and wife business really, my wife Julie has been here about 30 of the 34 years and we’re still speaking.

“Scott’s been here 20 years, Sharon and Becky have been here about three. We all get on really well with each other.”