Bank holiday exodus allays credit crunch fears
Bank holiday exodus allays credit crunch fears
Prospects of a damp bank holiday could lead to almost 2 million British holidaymakers jetting off to sunnier climes, travel experts predict. The Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) expects 1.9 million Britons to leave the country this weekend and claims that the travel industry is still strong, despite the credit crunch..
This bank holiday weekend coincides with the start of the school half-term holidays, which, when coupled with a showery forecast, is likely to lead to a mass exodus. ABTA reveals that the
Canary and
Balearic Islands are leading the way, with
Italy,
Turkey,
Egypt and
Greece also making it into the top 10 getaway destinations.
Florida is also proving popular for long-haul travellers.
Commenting on the trend, ABTA president Justin Fleming said: "Much has been talked about the credit crunch this year, but there is real strength in the travel industry as is shown by the number of people leaving the country this weekend. Many of our members are reporting good financial results against a steady increase in bookings."
Britain's airports are expected to be busy as a result; ABTA reports that almost 400,000 passengers are due to take off from Heathrow. London's other airports should also see high numbers of holidaymakers, as should Britain's regional hubs and ferry ports. ABTA's statistics also show that travelling by train is also a popular option; 80,000 passengers are expected to head under the Channel on Eurostar this weekend.
This story was brought to you by holiday
lettings.co.uk, the UK's No.1 holiday home website.
23 May 2008
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