Fewer travelling abroad over May bank holiday

www.abta.com

At least 100,000 fewer UK holidaymakers will head overseas during the bank holiday weekend this year, according to ABTA estimates.

The organisation is predicting that 1.8 million Britons will leave the country for the holiday weekend, which coincides with school half term breaks.

For the May bank holiday last year, 1.9 million Britons travelled abroad.

Spain has retained its position as the top destination for UK holidaymakers, with the Canary and Balearic islands being the most popular spots. Turkey and Egypt are experiencing tourism booms, benefitting from being outside the euro-currency zone, according to the ABTA.

Florida will see a good number of Britons taking a week’s break, as families take advantage of the lower prices offered in May.

City destinations that are most popular for this May’s holiday weekend are Paris, Amsterdam, Dublin, Rome and New York.

A large number of travellers will depart on flights from south-east England, with 385,000 flying from Heathrow, 220,000 from Gatwick, 120,000 from Stansted and 60,000 departing from Luton.

In the North and the Midlands, more than 130,000 are scheduled to depart from Manchester airport and 65,000 from Birmingham.

Scottish airports will have a busy weekend, as 55,000 holidaymakers fly from Edinburgh and 45,000 depart from Glasgow.

Smaller regional airports also will be busy, as will ferry terminals. As many as 80,000 travellers are expected to make their way to the continent on Eurostar, as well.

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www.abta.com