End of summer sees Brits head to sunnier climes

With temperatures across Britain set to plummet, leading online travel agent On the Beach has witnessed a significant boost in winter sun holidays as Brits look to escape the wintery weather.

Research conducted by On the Beach shows that soon after the cold weather swept the nation, signalling the end of the British summer, holiday bookings to some of the most popular winter sun destinations began to soar. 

Bookings to Tunisia saw the biggest boost in sales, up a massive 80% on the previous year.

The research which looks at bookings made from the beginning of August also shows that popular Egyptian resorts of Sharm El Sheikh and Hurghada are also outselling last year with booking up 73% on last year.

Holidays to resorts in Turkey such as Dalaman and Antalya are also outselling the previous year with bookings up 49%.

Destinations across Spain are also proving popular this winter sun season, with bookings to the Canary Islands, the Balearic's and Mainland Spain up 25% on the previous year.

Holidaymakers from Wales appear the most eager to escape the cold with winter sun holidays from Cardiff Airport almost doubling over the past few weeks.

Sales in winter holidays departing East Midlands and Gatwick Airport are also soaring with bookings up 65% and 44% respectively on the previous year.

Alistair Daly, Chief Marketing Officer at On the Beach comments:

"August is always a busy month for holidays, but this year we are seeing a significant rise in the number of people booking their winter sun holiday during this month. The latest weather reports are clearly having an effect, with many Britons returning from their summer holiday abroad and immediately looking to escape the cold weather."

-ends-

For further information please contact Jamie Wortley at:  jamie@jpwcommunications.com, or call 01769 573 444

About On the Beach

Founded in 2004, On the Beach is a leading online travel company in the UK and has become one of the most popular holiday booking sites, with 50 million website visitors every year and one million customers choosing On the Beach to find, book and enjoy their perfect beach holiday. Book online at www.onthebeach.co.uk, or by calling the UK call centre on 0871 474 3000.