The Greek islands and Turkey are seeing the greatest rise in overseas holiday booking levels in 2022 after two years of Covid travel restrictions, according to new data.
Analysis of 1.8 million trips booked in the first half of the year shows Santorini and Mykonos in Greece and Antalya and Dalaman in Turkey as being among destinations attracting the most increased demand.
Low-cost European cities such as Tirana in Albania and Zadar in Croatia are also on the list of the top 20 fastest rising destinations calculated by research conducted by holiday add-ons company Holiday Extras.
Others include the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm el Sheikh, while the long-haul risers are Varadero in Cuba and Melbourne, Australia.
Holiday Extras deputy chief executive Simon Hagger said: “With all the changes to travel over the last three years it’s inevitable that travel habits have gone through some changes too.
“It’s great to see the world open back up, and people are reuniting with friends and family in Australia, or heading out for long-delayed bucket-list holidays to Egypt and the Caribbean.
“People who flew in 2020 and 2021 found themselves exploring new places because their old favourites were closed, and this year they’re going back again – hence the incredible rise in popularity of Greece and Turkey as destinations, both of which stayed open almost all the way through the travel lockdowns.
“And, of course, for many people the cost of living crunch means finding cheaper options, so some of the new top picks – like Turkey and Albania – are amongst the cheapest destinations for a budget summer holiday this year.”