The beleaguered pound may mean less of us are heading abroad this summer but for those who can't live without their summer holiday fix, Spain remains the top foreign destination for Britons.
easyJet pinpointed Malaga in southern Spain as the most popular spot for those taking overseas breaks. The low cost carrier said other Iberian destinations including Alicante, Palma in Majorca, Faro in Portugal and Barcelona were also among their best selling routes.
Vamos! Malaga, gateway to the Costa del Sol remains hugely popular among British tourists
easyJet UK director Paul Simmons said: 'The sandy shores, blue seas and promise of sunshine keep Brits flocking to Spain year after year for a relaxing summer break.'
Meanwhile, travel organisation ABTA quoted figures from market research company GfK-Ascent MI showing that Spanish bookings were up 11 per cent this summer, with Portugal up 8 per cent and Greece up 2 per cent.
Spanish hotels, bars and restaurants have widely been seen to lower prices to keep attracting British tourists and counter the current exchange rate. Over the past four years, the pound has fallen by more than 20 per cent against the euro, pushing up the cost of favourite holiday destinations including France, Italy, and Spain.
ABTA said short-break city tours to Paris, Madrid and Rome had increased and there were good deals to be found in Tunisia and Egypt as well as Turkey - a direct impact of the Arab Spring, which has seen tourists reluctant to commit to Middle Eastern breaks.
The organisation also revealed that there was expected to be a 5 per cent rise in the number of passengers taking cruise trips from the UK this year.
Meanwhile, easyJet is expected to be hit by strikes in France today as workers take industrial action against pay conditions during illness or accidents. The budget airline’s cabin crew are preparing a 48-hour walkout in Lyon, Paris Charles de Gaulle and Orly airports.
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