The budget destination Brits are choosing over Spain for a cheap holiday

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

Spain and the Canary Islands, traditional havens for Brits craving winter sunlight and family-oriented resorts, are seeing their appeal tested as heightened prices force budget-minded travellers to seek alternative destinations.

This is according to insights from travel titan TUI, which has observed North Africa's rising popularity. TUI Groups CEO, Sebastien Ebel, spoke of a noticeable change in British holiday patterns, commenting: "What we see is more people going to Egypt in winter [instead of the Canaries]." Ebel pointed out that value for money is paramount for holidaymakers trying to stretch every pound, with a new band of customers emerging who may have lesser means but still harbour a desire to escape abroad. "We also see quite often new customers who have less income but still want to travel, and they have a budget of €1,000/£800 per vacation.

If they don't see it in Spain, then they look for alternatives, and they find alternatives." As Spain grapples with increased living costs, overcapacity issues and local pushback against mass tourism, countries such as Egypt and Tunisia stand out as budget-friendly options for winter getaways, particularly among families. "There is a shift, especially in the family segment, to cheaper destinations," he added, underlining the financial pressures on typical holiday-goers.

Echoing this sentiment, EasyJet Holidays has reported a spike in bookings to oft-overlooked destinations like Egypt and Morocco.