TAKE FLIGHT
TUI reveals the cheaper holiday destinations Brits are flocking to for a bargain as Spain is ‘full’ this summer
Summer holiday breaks are 'one-third full' says the tour operator
BRIT holidaymakers are flocking to more competitively priced destinations like Egypt, Tunisia, Bulgaria and Albania, according to tour operator TUI.
During TUI's first quarter results, Sebastien Ebel, TUI Group chief executive, explained how the tour operator was seeing a shift to destinations offering more competitive prices.
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While Spain has long been a favourite holiday hotspot among Brits, the country is now 'fully booked' reports Ebel.
The news comes after the tour operator reported Brits were being priced out of Spain, with holidays in the country getting more expensive.
It seems some British holidaymakers are swapping breaks to Spanish resorts for breaks in other destinations like Bulgaria, Tunisia and Egypt.
Ebel previously said: "In summer, there is high demand for Bulgaria, Tunisia and Egypt, so there are changes in demand patterns.
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"Majorca will be full in summer, the Canaries are full in winter, but there is enough choice for customers to find the right vacation."
According to the tour operator, its summer 2025 programme is already one-third sold out, with booking volumes up two per cent.
And it's not just a shift in destinations either, with holidaymakers choosing to go on shorter breaks compared to pre-pandemic levels.
Overnight breaks now average 10 nights compared to 11 nights before the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Ebel added: "We still see that families are booking less or later.”
Last year, Neil Swanson, who is the TUI UK and Ireland managing director, agreed with Ebel's remarks.
egypt nile cruise
Swanson added: "Looking ahead to 2025, we’re seeing growing interest in North African destinations."
Meanwhile, last year, Research from HolidayPirates saw interest in Tunisia rise by 70 per cent.
This spike in holiday bookings was aided by a drop in the cost of package holidays, with prices down by 20 per cent.
Raphael Giacardi, Chief Editor UK at , said: "We’ve seen that the nature of their travel is adapting according to affordability, and many are heading where the best deals take them rather than sticking with the most commonly-visited destinations at all costs."
Just last week, Egypt scrapped visa fees for holidays flying directly into Luxor and Aswan.
The initiative was announced by Sherif Fathy, the country's minister of Tourism and Antiquities, and will come into force this summer to help drive tourist numbers to the Nile Valley.
Both TUI and easyJet operate direct flights from London Gatwick to Luxor.
TUI's flights align with the sailings of their five-star ship, TUI Al Horeya, which is the tour operator's first river cruise outside European waterways.
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Meanwhile, TUI added Enfidha in Tunisia to its list of destinations last year.
Some Brits have already made the most of the competitive prices in North Africa like mum Melanie Evans.
At the end of last year, Melanie went on a day trip to Agadir in Morocco with her son.
The pair spent seven hours in Agadir, spending £89 each on their extreme day trip.
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My View: TUI's New Route to Enfidha
THE Sun's Head of Travel, Lisa Minot, explains what the new TUI flights from London Stansted to Enfidha means to Brit holidaymakers.
THE launch of flights to the sun-soaked Tunisian coast from Stansted gives yet more options to travellers who want to experience year-round balmy temperatures and great value holidays.
The new TUI flights to Enfidha give holidaymakers easy access to the popular beach resorts of Hammamet and Sousse as well as the modern resort of Port el Kantaoui with its glitzy marina, golf courses, shops and restaurants.
The beaches looking out over the Mediterranean are popular both in summer and winter and with extra Stansted flights, there's even more choice for those wanting to head away for a short break or longer holiday.
It comes as travel giant TUI looks to expand the number of destinations that can be reached from a larger range of UK airports.
The newest easyJet flights were launched earlier this year, from Glasgow to Enfidha in Tunisia.
If you want a package holiday, you can find cheap deals for that too with all-inclusives under £300.
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