Brits flock to Turkey

The fall in the value of the pound against the euro has contributed to increasing numbers of British holidaymakers choosing to travel to Turkey and Egypt, according to a survey that has been conducted by the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) and the Foreign Office, the Guardian has reported.

The survey found that bookings for summer holidays in Egypt were up by 38% and those for Turkey had gone up by 32%. Bookings for traditional holiday destinations (Greece and Spain) were said to be stable, Turkey have now reached two million, and one million people have bought Egypt packages, said the ABTA.

However these numbers can't compare to the 12 million visiting Spain annually. A spokesman for the ABTA has referenced the credit crunch and its impact on disposable income in the UK – in addition to the declining value of the pound against the euro.

Spain still remains the most popular holiday destination for British tourists, with more than 12 million visiting each year, according to figures obtained from the British Office for National Statistics. France follows in second place, with 7.5 million Brits visiting every year, and Italy coming in third, with 2.5 million British visitors.

In 2008, Turkey came in eighth, with 1.2 million UK holidaymakers choosing the destination outside the Europe.