Spain and Portugal see surprise tourist boom

In the wake of the recent political troubles in Egypt, travellers are choosing to holiday in safer Spain and Portugal figures released this week reveal.

As political violence in Egypt enters its third week, tour operators, airlines and tourists alike look on with increasing alarm, cancelling many flights and package holidays to its sun-drenched resorts.

Jet2 cancels Egypt flights

Yorkshire-based budget carrier Jet2.com took the decision to cancel its summer flight schedule to Sharm el-Sheikh and Hurghada this week as the Foreign and Commonwealth Office advised against all but essential travel to Cairo, Alexandria, Luxor and Suez.

70,000 more seats available

The cancelled flights will be replaced by a new programme to a selection of traditional family destinations in Spain and Portugal. The 70,000 ‘extra’ summer seats will take holidaymakers to Alicante, Ibiza, Malaga, Faro and Tenerife, boosting tourist numbers to both the Hispanic mainland and islands.

Good news for Spain and Portugal

Travel agents from across the sector agree that Jet2.com’s decision to transfer the cancelled flights to Spain and Portugal will come as a welcome boost for both countries.

Scottish Passenger Agents’ Association president Brian Potter said: “Egypt will take longer to settle down than Tunisia. Spain and Portugal need the extra tourism as numbers there have fallen. There is a general trend emerging of people going back to these ‘traditional’ destinations.”

Denise Marsden, sales manager of Manchester-based agency Miss Ellies Travel, agreed: “If the trouble carries on, it will have a knock-on effect on Egypt. However, it might give the Canaries a chance to come back as a lot of customers have switched to there.”

It seems as though things are already looking up for traditional Spanish resorts too, as the Balearics and Canaries came out as the top two holiday destinations for the week to February 5th.

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