UPMARKET operator Sovereign has expanded into North Africa to increase its geographical spread and end its reliance on the Canary Islands.
Tunisia and Morocco are new to the winter 2000/2001 programme with the Costa Blanca also making a debut.
Sovereign managing director Philippa Harris said North Africa has worked hard to shed its tatty image.
“Tunisia in particular faded around five or six years ago but there has been a lot of investment since then,” she said. “Quality new hotels have also been constructed.”
In Tunisia, four properties are featured – three four star and one five star – with two hotels offered in Morocco.
Harris said it was important for Sovereign to expand its product range to increase passenger numbers.
“There is still room to expand in the Canaries but over time we need to look further afield,” she said. “We want to move away from total dominance of the Canaries.”
In Costa Blanca, the First Choice-owned operator is offering the newly built Melia Altea Hills Hotel on the outskirts of Benidorm.
New resorts include Paradise Island in the Maldives and Tavira in the Algarve.
Spa packages have also been increased and are featured in Dubai, Cyprus, Tunisia, the Canary Islands, Majorca, Spain and Madeira.
Harris said reservations staff have been specially trained to answer agent questions on spa holidays.
Flights from Blackpool have been added for the first time while a classic premium service is now available on flights to Goa and the Maldives.
Prices in the programme have been increased by around 3%.
They lead in at £279 per person for seven nights’ bed and breakfast at the Hotel Vila Gale Praia in the Algarve.