GDANSK, Sept 24 (Reuters) - Europe's biggest tour

operator TUI on Tuesday confirmed its annual guidance

and mid-term targets after a strong summer season.

Summer bookings rose 6% year-on-year, hitting 14.7 million

in total, or 97% of the whole programme sold, the group said, as

it benefits from a resurgence of packaged holidays, as well as

from the bankruptcy of its German rival FTI ( FCN ) earlier this year.

It also said the start of the winter season was looking

promising with bookings rising 7%, hitting 1.8 million so far,

which corresponds to 33% of the whole programme.

TUI forecast a 25% increase in operating profit and 10%

revenue growth this year.