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Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Brits ditch Spain and Portugal for scorching countries with cheaper breaks
Experts say many people are being drawn to the North African region by its wide availability of high-quality hotels costing considerably less than similar properties in locations such as Spain, France and Italy A surge in UK holidaymakers are swapping traditional European destinations for North Africa, according to travel firms. Experts suggest the region's appeal lies in its abundance of high-quality hotels that are significantly cheaper than similar properties in Spain, France and Italy. Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia are all seeing an influx of visitors from the UK. Data from aviation analysts Cirium reveals that 19,847 flights are expected to serve routes from UK airports to these countries this year, more than double the 8,653 flights in 2019. In contrast, the number of flights to Spain and Portugal is predicted to rise by 10% and 9% respectively over the same period. This indicates that many holidaymakers seeking better quality accommodation without paying more are willing to endure a longer flight, despite airlines like easyJet and Ryanair offering non-reclining seats and no onboard entertainment. Flights from Gatwick airport in West Sussex to Egypt's Sharm el-Sheikh take approximately five hours and 20 minutes. This means an additional hour and 45 minutes on a plane compared to trips to the traditional southern Spanish hotspot of Alicante. EasyJet commenced flights between Gatwick and Cape Verde, off the west coast of Africa, in March, marking its longest route serving England. These flights cover the distance of 2,332 nautical miles in six hours and 10 minutes. Tui, the travel company, has reported a 30% increase in bookings for summer holidays in Egypt compared to last year, from both flight-only and package holiday customers. The firm also noted "double-digit growth" for Tunisia and a strong demand for Morocco. Chris Logan, Tui's UK commercial director, stated that these three destinations offer "fantastic value for money", making it difficult for traditional European destinations to compete. Speaking to the PA news agency, he said: "There's good quality accommodation and great weather beyond the traditional summer season. "Even in the winter months temperatures are mild, making them a perfect choice for year-round travel." To meet the growing demand, Tui has increased its flights from the UK to North Africa this summer, introducing new routes from Stansted to Enfidha in Tunisia and from Newcastle to Agadir, Morocco. the online accommodation marketplace, reported a 68% increase in searches for summer breaks in Tunisia during the first five months of this year, compared with the same period in 2024. Egypt and Morocco saw increases of 64% and 39% respectively. Nicki Tempest-Mitchell, managing director at Barrhead Travel, commented that Morocco, Egypt and Tunisia offer "incredible value for money" which is "proving increasingly attractive for holidaymakers this year". She added: "The investment in high-quality hotels and experiences across these regions is turning the heads of customers who may previously have favoured mainland Europe." According to Julia Lo Bue-Said, chief executive of Advantage Travel Partnership, "Although favourites such as Spain and Turkey are still our top-selling destinations, it's safe to say north Africa is a region to watch over the next few years." She observed a "clear trend toward value-conscious holiday planning", attributing this to the ongoing cost of living pressures and reduced disposable incomes. Lo Bue-Said noted: "This shift has driven growing popularity for destinations like Morocco, Egypt and Tunisia, which offer more competitive pricing and high-quality accommodation options compared to the more traditional western Mediterranean resorts."
The Irish Sun
12-06-2025
- The Irish Sun
Thousands of Brits are ditching Europe for these three cheap African holiday destinations
WITH expensive costs and overcrowded attractions, thousands of Brits are ditching Europe for more affordable destinations in Africa. Recent research by TUI has seen a boom in demand for North African holidays . 3 North Africa is becoming a much popular destination with Brits Credit: Alamy 3 Morocco has reported record tourist numbers Credit: Alamy Morocco , Egypt and TUI's UK commercial director Chris Logan said that the reason for the demand was not because of the "fantastic value for money " compared to pricier places in Europe . He told PA: "There's good quality accommodation and great weather beyond the traditional summer season. "Even in the winter months temperatures are mild, making them a perfect choice for year-round travel." Read more on Africa And according to aviation analysts Cirium, nearly 20,000 flights are set to fly from London to North African destinations. This is up from around 8,600 back in 2019. Some of TUI's new routes include Stansted to Enfidha in Tunisia and from Holidays are extremely cheaply too - we found deals under £300 each when four-star hotels in Most read in News Travel This demand has also been backed by who said they had seen an increase in searches for summer holidays to Tunisia by 64 per cent compared to last year. Searches for Inside luxury camping bivouac under the dunes in Morocco's Sahara desert Experts say many people are being drawn to the region by its wide availability of high-quality hotels costing considerably less than similar properties in locations such as Spain , France and Italy. Nicki Tempest-Mitchell, managing director at travel agency Barrhead Travel said north Africa was "a region to watch over the next few years". Other new Africa flights from the UK include easyJet's first route to Cape Verde from London Gatwick as well as flights to the And Julia Lo Bue-Said, chief executive of Advantage Travel Partnership, a network of independent travel agents, said there is a "clear trend toward value-conscious holiday planning". She went on: "Ongoing cost of living pressures and squeezed disposable incomes have meant that while people remain committed to taking holidays, they're increasingly focused on maximising value for money. "This shift has driven growing popularity for destinations like Morocco, Egypt and Tunisia, which offer more competitive pricing and high-quality accommodation options compared to the more traditional western Mediterranean resorts." The Sun's Deputy Travel Editor recently visited Our Head of Travel (Print) And our 3 Flights have also boomed - up 20,000 from 8,600 in five years Credit: Alamy
Scottish Sun
12-06-2025
- Scottish Sun
Thousands of Brits are ditching Europe for these three cheap African holiday destinations
Holidays can be found for less than £300 each SEE EU LATER Thousands of Brits are ditching Europe for these three cheap African holiday destinations Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) WITH expensive costs and overcrowded attractions, thousands of Brits are ditching Europe for more affordable destinations in Africa. Recent research by TUI has seen a boom in demand for North African holidays. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 North Africa is becoming a much popular destination with Brits Credit: Alamy 3 Morocco has reported record tourist numbers Credit: Alamy Morocco, Egypt and Tunisia are all seeing a boom in demand, with destinations like Marrakech reporting record tourist numbers, TUI's UK commercial director Chris Logan said that the reason for the demand was not because of the "fantastic value for money" compared to pricier places in Europe. He told PA: "There's good quality accommodation and great weather beyond the traditional summer season. "Even in the winter months temperatures are mild, making them a perfect choice for year-round travel." And according to aviation analysts Cirium, nearly 20,000 flights are set to fly from London to North African destinations. This is up from around 8,600 back in 2019. Some of TUI's new routes include Stansted to Enfidha in Tunisia and from Newcastle to Agadir in Morocco. Holidays are extremely cheaply too - we found deals under £300 each when four-star hotels in Morocco. This demand has also been backed by who said they had seen an increase in searches for summer holidays to Tunisia by 64 per cent compared to last year. Searches for Egypt were up 64 per cent while Morocco was up 39 per cent. Inside luxury camping bivouac under the dunes in Morocco's Sahara desert Experts say many people are being drawn to the region by its wide availability of high-quality hotels costing considerably less than similar properties in locations such as Spain, France and Italy. Nicki Tempest-Mitchell, managing director at travel agency Barrhead Travel said north Africa was "a region to watch over the next few years". Other new Africa flights from the UK include easyJet's first route to Cape Verde from London Gatwick as well as flights to the Tunisia capital of Djbera. And Norse Airways is increasing its flights from the UK to Cape Town after huge demand following the launch of them last year. Julia Lo Bue-Said, chief executive of Advantage Travel Partnership, a network of independent travel agents, said there is a "clear trend toward value-conscious holiday planning". She went on: "Ongoing cost of living pressures and squeezed disposable incomes have meant that while people remain committed to taking holidays, they're increasingly focused on maximising value for money. "This shift has driven growing popularity for destinations like Morocco, Egypt and Tunisia, which offer more competitive pricing and high-quality accommodation options compared to the more traditional western Mediterranean resorts." The Sun's Deputy Travel Editor recently visited El Gouna in Egypt. Our Head of Travel (Print) Lisa Minot went to Djerba in Tunisia. And our Deputy Digital Sport Editor did a camping holiday in Morocco.
South Wales Guardian
11-06-2025
- Business
- South Wales Guardian
Holidaymakers swapping traditional European hotspots for north Africa
Experts say many people are being drawn to the region by its wide availability of high-quality hotels costing considerably less than similar properties in locations such as Spain, France and Italy. North African countries Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia are all experiencing a boost in visitors from the UK. Figures from aviation analysts Cirium show 19,847 flights are projected to serve routes from UK airports to those nations this year, more than twice as many as the 8,653 that did so in 2019. By comparison, the number of flights to Spain and Portugal is forecast to increase by 10% and 9% respectively over the same period. This suggests many holidaymakers who want better quality accommodation without paying more are prepared to take a longer flight, despite airlines such as easyJet and Ryanair having seats that do not recline and no onboard entertainment. Flights from Gatwick airport, West Sussex, to Egypt's Sharm el-Sheikh take about five hours and 20 minutes. That means spending an extra hour and 45 minutes on a plane compared with trips to the traditional southern Spanish hotspot of Alicante. EasyJet launched flights between Gatwick and Cape Verde, off the coast of west Africa, in March, which is its longest route serving England. The flights take six hours and 10 minutes to cover the distance of 2,332 nautical miles. Travel company Tui said bookings from flight-only and package holiday customers for summer breaks in Egypt are 30% higher compared with a year ago. It also reported 'double-digit growth' for Tunisia and strong demand for Morocco. Tui's UK commercial director Chris Logan said these three destinations offer 'fantastic value for money', meaning traditional European destinations find it 'hard to compete'. He told the PA news agency: 'There's good quality accommodation and great weather beyond the traditional summer season. 'Even in the winter months temperatures are mild, making them a perfect choice for year-round travel.' Tui has increased its flights from the UK to north Africa this summer to meet growing demand, with new routes from Stansted to Enfidha in Tunisia and from Newcastle to Agadir, Morocco. Online accommodation marketplace said it recorded a 68% increase in the number of searches for summer breaks in Tunisia during the first five months of this year, compared with the same period in 2024. Egypt and Morocco saw rises of 64% and 39% respectively. Nicki Tempest-Mitchell, managing director at travel agency Barrhead Travel, said Morocco, Egypt and Tunisia offer 'incredible value for money' which is 'proving increasingly attractive for holidaymakers this year'. She added: 'The investment in high-quality hotels and experiences across these regions is turning the heads of customers who may previously have favoured mainland Europe. 'Although favourites such as Spain and Turkey are still our top-selling destinations, it's safe to say north Africa is a region to watch over the next few years.' Julia Lo Bue-Said, chief executive of Advantage Travel Partnership, a network of independent travel agents, said there is a 'clear trend toward value-conscious holiday planning'. She went on: 'Ongoing cost of living pressures and squeezed disposable incomes have meant that while people remain committed to taking holidays, they're increasingly focused on maximising value for money. 'This shift has driven growing popularity for destinations like Morocco, Egypt and Tunisia, which offer more competitive pricing and high-quality accommodation options compared to the more traditional western Mediterranean resorts.'
The Herald Scotland
11-06-2025
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Holidaymakers swapping traditional European hotspots for north Africa
North African countries Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia are all experiencing a boost in visitors from the UK. Figures from aviation analysts Cirium show 19,847 flights are projected to serve routes from UK airports to those nations this year, more than twice as many as the 8,653 that did so in 2019. By comparison, the number of flights to Spain and Portugal is forecast to increase by 10% and 9% respectively over the same period. This suggests many holidaymakers who want better quality accommodation without paying more are prepared to take a longer flight, despite airlines such as easyJet and Ryanair having seats that do not recline and no onboard entertainment. Flights from Gatwick airport, West Sussex, to Egypt's Sharm el-Sheikh take about five hours and 20 minutes. That means spending an extra hour and 45 minutes on a plane compared with trips to the traditional southern Spanish hotspot of Alicante. The promenade at night in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt (Alamy/PA) EasyJet launched flights between Gatwick and Cape Verde, off the coast of west Africa, in March, which is its longest route serving England. The flights take six hours and 10 minutes to cover the distance of 2,332 nautical miles. Travel company Tui said bookings from flight-only and package holiday customers for summer breaks in Egypt are 30% higher compared with a year ago. It also reported 'double-digit growth' for Tunisia and strong demand for Morocco. Tui's UK commercial director Chris Logan said these three destinations offer 'fantastic value for money', meaning traditional European destinations find it 'hard to compete'. He told the PA news agency: 'There's good quality accommodation and great weather beyond the traditional summer season. 'Even in the winter months temperatures are mild, making them a perfect choice for year-round travel.' Tourists walking along a sandy beach in Cape Verde (Alamy/PA) Tui has increased its flights from the UK to north Africa this summer to meet growing demand, with new routes from Stansted to Enfidha in Tunisia and from Newcastle to Agadir, Morocco. Online accommodation marketplace said it recorded a 68% increase in the number of searches for summer breaks in Tunisia during the first five months of this year, compared with the same period in 2024. Egypt and Morocco saw rises of 64% and 39% respectively. Nicki Tempest-Mitchell, managing director at travel agency Barrhead Travel, said Morocco, Egypt and Tunisia offer 'incredible value for money' which is 'proving increasingly attractive for holidaymakers this year'. She added: 'The investment in high-quality hotels and experiences across these regions is turning the heads of customers who may previously have favoured mainland Europe. 'Although favourites such as Spain and Turkey are still our top-selling destinations, it's safe to say north Africa is a region to watch over the next few years.' Julia Lo Bue-Said, chief executive of Advantage Travel Partnership, a network of independent travel agents, said there is a 'clear trend toward value-conscious holiday planning'. She went on: 'Ongoing cost of living pressures and squeezed disposable incomes have meant that while people remain committed to taking holidays, they're increasingly focused on maximising value for money. 'This shift has driven growing popularity for destinations like Morocco, Egypt and Tunisia, which offer more competitive pricing and high-quality accommodation options compared to the more traditional western Mediterranean resorts.'
