Turkey and Egypt are attracting a surge in summer bookings as British holidaymakers return to countries previously affected by terrorism.
Package holiday bookings reported today by Thomas Cook to Turkey are up 84% year-on-year due to low prices and quality all-inclusive hotels, while Egypt bookings have increased by 89%.
Growth to Turkey is being driven by families who are making up 61% of summer package bookings. Egypt is similarly popular with more than half (51%) of overall bookings coming from families.
Spain, including the mainland, Balearics and Canaries, is Thomas Cook’s top summer destination for the second year running.
But Turkey, in third place after Greece, is currently outselling mainland Spain and the Canary Islands combined.
Tunisia is also selling well and attracting families who account for 44% of bookings to date, Thomas Cook’s 2018 Holiday Report reveals today.
Thomas Cook Airlines has increased its schedule from three to 11 flights a week for this summer to meet demand after UK travel restrictions to the North African country were lifted in February following the 2015 Sousse beach terrorist attack.
Thomas Cook UK managing director Chris Mottershead said: “So far this summer, Turkey is the standout destination for British holidaymakers and we are seeing substantial growth in bookings compared to last year.
“With just one week to go until the summer holiday season officially begins, Egypt and Tunisia are also selling well with price and quality driving a return to these much-loved destinations.”
He added: “The 2018 Thomas Cook Holiday Report not only reveals where the nation is holidaying this summer, but it also shows the shift away from self-catering and towards all-inclusive as Brits look again at the package holiday in times of uncertainty and the turbulent exchange rate.”
Adult-only bookings to Greece have increased 5% year-on-year and now account for 64% of all bookings to the country for summer 2018.
The US is this summer’s fourth most popular holiday destination, largely driven by flight-only bookings. Flight sales to San Francisco and Los Angeles are up 54% and 8% respectively year-on-year.
The top five destinations for summer 2018:
1. Spain (mainland Spain, the Balearics and the Canary Islands)
2. Greece
3. Turkey
4. US
5. Caribbean