Record numbers forecast for big holiday weekend
ABTA is predicting that a record 2.4 million Brits are set to head overseas for their summer holidays this weekend when most of the schools in England and Wales break up for the summer.
As always, Spain is the number one destination, with the Balearic and Canary islands leading the way, but bookings to Portugal, Greece, Italy and France are also strong.
ABTA members are also reporting strong growth for Bulgaria and Croatia.
In the long-haul market, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica and Mexico have sold well but Florida remains the number one long-haul choice for families.
Meanwhile ABTA says domestic bookings are healthy, with travel agents and tour operators reporting strong demand to the West Country and seaside resorts.
More than 500,000 passengers are expected to fly from Heathrow, 335,000 from Gatwick, 136,000 from Stansted and 85,000 from Luton.
Meanwhile, 150,000 are due to go from Manchester, 70,000 from Birmingham, 55,000 from Bristol and 70,000 from Glasgow.
Some 58,000 holidaymakers are reported to be heading off to Paris and the South of France on Eurostar over the weekend.
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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