Six million Brits book winter sun holiday
Nearly six million people have sought, or are planning to seek, warmer climes this winter, according to new research by ABTA.
ABTA members report the Canary Islands remain the top destination for British tourists looking for sunnier weather, with Fuerteventura, Tenerife, Lanzarote and Gran Canaria seeing strong bookings.
Dubai and Egypt are proving popular mid-haul choices, and southern Turkey is opening up with more flights to Antalya and Dalaman throughout the winter season.
Orlando, Cape Town, Mexico and the Caribbean – whether it be for a cruise or visiting a specific destination such as Barbados, Jamaica or St Lucia – are the pick of the long-haul destinations.
For those looking for an alternative to the classic beach break, Thailand, Singapore and the rest of South East Asia offer options for a more adventurous trip.
Winter sun seekers are also considering destinations such as Morocco, Cyprus and the Algarve. While these areas may not reach the scorching temperatures of the summer months, they’re much warmer and sunnier than back home in the UK.
Overall, more than two-fifths (44%) of people have taken, or are considering taking, a winter holiday this season.
Whilst winter sun is the most preferred option (25%), the second most popular trip is a city break (21%), with 25 to 34-year-olds being the most likely to take one (28%).
Package holidays continue to dominate the overseas UK holiday market, with half of the holidays2people take each year being package breaks – a figure that has held steady since 2014.
More than half of holidaymakers (51%) saying they have booked a package because it was the best option for the price.
Lisa
Lisa joined Travel Weekly nearly 25 years ago as technology reporter and then sailed around the world for a couple of years as cruise correspondent, before becoming deputy editor. Now freelance, Lisa writes for various print and web publications, edits Corporate Traveller’s client magazine, Gateway, and works on the acclaimed Remembering Wildlife series of photography books, which raise awareness of nature’s most at-risk species and helps to fund their protection.
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