ABTA predicts record Easter exodus
The relentlessly cold weather and the late Easter is expected to drive a record 2.3 million holidaymakers abroad this weekend, ABTA has predicted.
The mass exodus will start tomorrow and continue over the weekend as the rain, cold and even snow storms bring a smile to the face of operators and agents.
Unsurprisingly, most of us will head to Spain, the Canary Islands in particular, where many of the traditional resorts have opened early to capture the Easter market.
Mallorca has also sold well along with Costa del Sol and Costa Blanca while ABTA said many will be visiting their holiday homes – a growing trend among British holidaymakers.
Cyprus has continued its popularity, followed by the Algarve, Tunisia, Egypt and Florida.
In the long haul market, Barbados, Cuba and the Dominican Republic have enjoyed strong sales.
ABTA also said the Hole Land has returned to pre-2000 levels.
Of the mass exodus, just under half a million will leave from Heathrow, 262,000 from Gatwick, 110,000 from Manchester, 172,000 from Stansted, 60,000 from Luton and 45,000 from Birmingham.
In Scotland, 51,000 will depart from Glasgow and 57,000 from Edinburgh.
ABTA president Martin Wellings said the record number of holidaymakers shows the industry is in good shape.
“Although Easter is always a busy time of year for the industry, there seems to be a real pent-up demand this year that we’ve been able to fulfil.”
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