Families betting on safe resorts

Package holiday firms have put on extra flights to Mediterranean hot spots such as the Balearic Islands.

Package holiday firms have put on extra flights to Mediterranean hot spots such as the Balearic Islands.

Published May 25, 2016

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London - Tourists are facing a shortage of sunshine holiday spots this year as British families turn their backs on previously popular destinations.

Travel agents say that thousands have switched to “safe haven” resorts such as Spain, Portugal and Italy – apparently in response to terror attacks elsewhere.

However, there are simply too few hotels, apartments and villas to cope with the surge in demand. Even if people can find a holiday in Spain, analysts suggest they are paying a “safety premium” of up to 20 percent compared to destinations including Tunisia and Turkey.

Package holiday firms have put on extra flights to Mediterranean hot spots such as the Balearic Islands – but it is still likely that some families will miss out.

The Association of British Travel Agents said 35 percent of families who plan to take a holiday have not yet booked.

Its chief executive, Mark Tanzer, said: “We are seeing a significant increase in summer holiday bookings to western Mediterranean destinations, so I would urge holidaymakers who are looking to travel not to delay making a booking.” People have abandoned the idea of visiting countries such as Egypt, Tunisia and Turkey following a series of outrages.

The loss of the EgyptAir flight from Paris to Cairo last week – which killed 66 people – has intensified concerns about travelling to areas where tourists could be seen as a target.

Bookings to Turkey have collapsed by more than 40 percent this year in the wake of a series of terror attacks – including a suicide bombing in Istanbul in January which killed at least ten people.

Tunisia is also a no-go country following terror attacks on resort beaches last summer which left 30 Britons dead.

Holiday company Barrhead Travel, which sells more than 300 000 trips a year, said there had been a drastic change in booking patterns.

“Bookings for Spain are up by 37 percent against this time last year and there could be a shortage of holidays left,” it said. “Holidaymakers hoping to travel to the Mediterranean this summer need to book now or risk losing out.”

Its figures show many other European destinations have seen big increases in bookings. Malta has risen by 20 percent, Portugal by 18 percent and Italy by 17 percent.

Chief executive, Sharon Munro, said: “The increase in seats taken for flights emphasises how popular western Europe has become.

“We believe the growth in popularity of these destinations is being driven partly by a drop in demand to traditionally popular holiday spots such as Tunisia and Turkey.”

British resorts could also see a growth in business as families struggle to find holidays abroad.

Daily Mail

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