News

Turkey, Tunisia and all-inclusives ‘top value options’ this summer

Turkey and Tunisia have emerged as the top growth destinations being considered by cost-conscious British holidaymakers looking outside the Eurozone this summer, according to new data.

But Ibiza and Dubai are losing their appeal despite the emirate remaining the top long-haul destination.

The trends are based on price comparison searches with TravelSupermarket across holidays provided by more than 25 operators between January 1 and July 18 for departures between May 1 and September 30.

Bulgaria, regularly rated as the most cost-effective package holiday destination, is at 25 on the list while interest in all-inclusive resorts has risen by eight per cent.

Last week week, industry analyst GfK said season-to-date bookings, which were up 1% year on year, were “all-inclusive driven.”

TravelSupermarket travel commentator Emma Coulthurst said: “There has been an upward trend for all-inclusive holidays since the referendum as holidaymakers are keen to avoid potential sterling-euro volatility and ‘lock in’ food and drink costs.

“Nearly one third of all price comparison searches made via TravelSupermarket this year have been for all-inclusive breaks, compared with 13% for self-catering and 6% for half board. 

“Prices this summer are like no other, with price drops of as much as 38% down compared with if you’d been booking for a holiday for last summer.

“Brexit has raised concerns and seen people delay booking. As a result, demand has dropped and prices have followed.

“During the school holidays, it is possible to book a seven night holiday for the family for under £300pp, when normally it is difficult to find anything for less than £400pp.”


More: Summer sales surpass 2018 levels

EasyJet reports ‘robust’ quarterly performance

Special Report: Is Brexit hitting outbound bookings? [Jan 19]


Spain remains the favourite foreign holiday destination, with Tenerife and Majorca taking the top two places.

The Algarve has risen from fourth place last summer to third this year in terms of interest.

The destination in the top 20 which has seen the biggest increase in interest is the Costa Dorada, rising from 16th place last year to eighth.

Turkey has moved up from seventh to fourth place with a 50% leap in share of search for holidays to resorts around the Antalya region.

Tunisia appears in 23rd place from 75th last summer following the relaxation of Foreign and Commonwealth Office travel restrictions in the wake of the 2015 Sousse beach terrorist killings.

Coulthurst said: “This renewed interest in holidaying in Turkey and Tunisia demonstrates Brits’ desire to ensure their money goes further; Tunisia and Turkey are seeing some of the fastest UK tourism growth this summer.

“Package holidays have been back on sale to Tunisia for around two years, hence the jump.

“Brits get a lot of lira in Turkey and a lot of dina for their sterling in Tunisia. A meal out for two in resorts along the Turkish Turquoise Coast is likely to cost less than £15 for two people and a beer around £2.

“A meal out in Tunisia will be a similar price but drinks can be even cheaper with a beer around half that price. Plus both countries offer some of the largest range of and best value all-inclusive holidays on the market.

“With currency volatility with the euro on UK holidaymakers’ minds, choosing to holiday outside of the eurozone enables you to avoid that and not spend a fortune.”  

Ibiza has dropping from the tenth favourite destination last year to 15th in terms of share of interest.

Dubai which has fallen out of the top 20, going from 19th to 27th place but still remains the favourite non-short haul destination for the summer.

The Greek Island of Santorini dropped four places from sixth last year in terms of share of search due to high costs.

Other fallers include Menorca and the Costa Blanca, meaning resorts like Benidorm are no longer featuring in the top ten. 

Coulthurst said: “The drop in share of search to some of the more expensive package holiday destinations again backs up the premise that Brits are predominantly looking for value this year.

“The Costa Blanca, which includes mainstay resorts for Brits like Benidorm, is also seeing a slight decrease in share of search, no doubt due to the renewed competition from eastern Med destinations which compete with it on low-priced resort costs.”

The other top 25 fastest riser alongside Tunisia is Sardinia, up from 29th to 22nd place following a drop in prices.

Share article

View Comments

Jacobs Media is honoured to be the recipient of the 2020 Queen's Award for Enterprise.

The highest official awards for UK businesses since being established by royal warrant in 1965. Read more.