Dismal weather leads to Easter bookings bonanza
Thomson and First Choice claim the dire British weather has prompted the highest number of Easter bookings for 10 years.
Over 36,000 people are set to travel with Thomson and First Choice this weekend, heading to destinations with warmer climates in the Mediterranean and North Africa.
Online bookings to Fuerteventura in the Canary Islands, Greece and Tunisia are up 73%, 45% and 37% respectively versus 2012.
In what has been the coldest March since 1910, Thomson has seen a 60% year-on-year increase in online searches.
Garry Wilson, managing director of purchasing for Thomson and First Choice, said: "We are seeing the strongest demand in 10 years for beach holidays this Easter as Brits look to escape the freezing temperatures and grey skies.
"With predicted highs of 24 degrees in Fuerteventura, Canary Islands and 20 degrees in Hammamet, Tunisia on Easter Sunday versus just six degrees in London and four degrees in Manchester it’s easy to see why people are heading south for the long weekend."
ABTA estimates that 1.7 million British holidaymakers will head overseas for the Easter weekend.
It said Spain is the most popular destination, particularly the Canary and Balearic Islands.
"Egypt and Tunisia have also sold very well as people look to escape the freezing weather in the UK," said a spokeswoman
"With the UK suffering one of the coldest Easters on record, ABTA members are reporting substantial year on year increases in last minute bookings to sunshine destinations."
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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