Bookings for Spanish holidays up 27%

The enduring appeal of Spain means it will once again be Europe’s most popular tourist destination in 2016.

The Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) has revealed that the number of Brits booking holidays to Spain this summer is up 27% on last year as more and more holidaymakers shun the long haul and plump for Spain…

With the Foreign Office warning against “all but essential” travel in many parts of previously popular destinations such as Egypt and Tunisia, and with Turkey’s proximity to the Syrian warzone an obvious concern, Brits are opting to play it safe this summer in their pursuit of some fun in the sun.

As a result, the traditional favourites such as Spain, Cyprus, Portugal and Malta are enjoying a rise in bookings. Spain leads the way, of course, with the pace of bookings for this time of year already surging ahead of record numbers.

Meanwhile, ABTA revealed that the number of holidaymakers choosing Turkey has fallen by a massive 50%. 

Further data from the Travel Supermarket showed that Spain is by far the online holiday portal’s most searched for destination for Brits, while other northern European sun-seekers are also turning their backs on Turkey, Egpyt, Tunisia and – increasingly – Greece, favouring instead the western Mediterranean destinations.

In response to this changing trend, established tour and flight operators such as Thomas Cook and Monarch are to scale back their flights and package deals to troubled regions, and will instead lay on more routes and deals to places such as Spain – which should in turn result in lower prices for all.