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Spain is the UK’s favourite foreign holiday destination over the Easter weekend as an estimated 1.8 million travellers head overseas over the bank holiday weekend, according to Abta.
The Canary and Balearic islands are the most popular areas in Spain.
Daytime temperatures this weekend are set to reach 23°C in Malaga, 30°C in the Red Sea resorts in Egypt, 25°C in Turkey and 28°C in Florida, the most popular long-haul destination this Easter. Mexican resorts on the Caribbean coast have also sold well.
Paris, Dublin, Amsterdam, Rome, Barcelona and New York are among the top city break choices. Skiers are also travelling to catch the last of the season’s snow due to Easter falling early this year, with Switzerland doing particularly well
Bookings for UK breaks are healthy with many people travelling to traditional seaside resorts, national parks and holiday camps.
Airports are reporting strong numbers with 393,000 due to fly from Heathrow, 250,000 from Gatwick, 153,000 from Stansted, 70,000 from Luton, 125,000 from Manchester, 51,000 from Birmingham, 23,000 from East Midlands and 37,000 from Bristol airport.
More than 100,000 will be leaving via the Scottish airports with 64,000 departing from Edinburgh alone.
Other regional airports, ferry terminals and the channel tunnel will also be extremely busy over the weekend, Abta cautioned.
Chief executive Mark Tanzer said: “Easter is the travel industry’s traditional curtain raiser to the summer and hundreds of thousands of UK holidaymakers will be heading overseas to enjoy some early sun or late snow.
“Holidaymakers are flocking to the eurozone to take advantage of the cheaper euro. While UK breaks have also proved popular with low fuel prices boosting travel around the country.”
Ski Club of Great Britain sales and operations manager, Katy Ellis, said: “The Easter weekend continues to be a popular choice for many Ski Club members looking to make the most of the bank holiday and get four days on snow with no time off work.
“Easter falls at a good time this year in early April when all the resorts are still open, snow conditions are generally still good and temperatures are warm enough to dine alfresco and top up the tan.”