Fewer European visitors leads to 'more enjoyable' continental holidays

Monday 12 October 2009

People booking flights to Europe this year are having a more enjoyable time because of the fewer number of visitors.

This is according to the Association of Independent Tour Operators (AITO) and comes after poor exchange rates caused a number of people to steer clear of the eurozone this summer.

AITO executive director Kate Kenward said that European destinations "will always be popular" for British holidaymakers.

"If the numbers are less, touring major cities and attractions which have been known to be busy in the past will be a joy," she commented.

Ms Kenward went on to say that there were "quite a few people" who were waiting to make last minute travel arrangements in order to get a better deal.

Elsewhere, she added, flights to Turkey and Egypt have proved popular thanks to the value for money they offer compared to eurozone countries.

According to figures from Thomson and First Choice, 80 percent of Brits said the recession had not caused them to change their holiday plans, which suggests that exchange rates may have had more of an influence in terms of destination choices.