09 July 2008

Turkey now more popular than Spain with Brits

Turkey has toppled Spain as the most popular destination for those looking for a bargain break in the sun, according to a report by The Cooperative Travel.

The group says the high cost of the euro and reduced capacity to Spain following the merger of the big travel names is the cause of the shift.

Spain has held the number one spot for the bucket and spade brigade since the birth of the package holiday.

The report says sales to Turkey are up 30% this summer compared to the same period last year while bookings to Majorca, previously the British holidaymaker's favourite, are down 13%.

It adds that the mergers of Thomas Cook and MyTravel and Thomson and First Choice has prompted rationalisation in capacity with operators reducing supply to short haul Mediterranean resorts. The report reminds that at the start of the summer TUI announced 12% cuts and Thomas Cook reduced Mytravelââ¬â¢s programme by 23%

Head of The Co-operative Travelââ¬â¢s Director of Retail Distribution Trevor Davis said: "Bookings from people looking for cheap summer sun have traditionally ensured that Spain was the leading holiday destination. However this year they are finding the high euro and a shortage of availability means the normal late deals arenââ¬â¢t available.

"Turkey has benefited most from this trend and weââ¬â¢re seeing 30% growth in bookings for holidays across all parts of the country."

The company says that the average selling price of a holiday to Turkey is up to Ã&#pound;108 cheaper than to Majorca (Ã&#pound;357 compared to Ã&#pound;465).

By Dinah Hatch

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• Turkey more popular than Spain?
  
  

  At the price the UK tour operators are selling packages to Turkey better send all their UK clients to Turkey rather than Spain

  By ramon alvarez, Thursday, July 10, 2008
• Misleading headline
  
  

  From my reading of this, the word Spain in the title should be replaced with Majorca and the words "booking with the Co-operative Travel" added to the end. Feel free to correct me if I'm mistaken

  By Mick Coleby, Thursday, July 10, 2008
• Very misleading statistics
  
  

  What the co-op does not measure are the millions that are travelling to Spain on the low cost carriers compared to standard packages. Turkey has no low cost carriers to speak of so everyone goes there on packages which makes it see more popular than Spain.

  By Noel Josephides, Wednesday, July 9, 2008