Florida and Egypt popular late booking holiday destinations

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According to research just released, Florida and Egypt have become the favourite destinations among Britons making late holiday bookings.

In an analysis of over 380,000 holidays conducted by The Co-operative Travel, it was found that Florida bookings are up by 49 per cent as compared with early June last year. At the beginning of May, the number of bookings to the popular American destination was down by eight per cent.

A surge in US bookings is being attributed to the pound strengthening against the US dollar, according to the largest independent travel retailer in the UK.

The analysis showed a year-on-year exchange rate rise of 11 per cent, from one pound buying $1.48 last year and now buying $1.65.

In the eurozone, the pound has risen over the same period, but only by four per cent. The agency believes that a boost in eurozone bookings will still be seen.

At the beginning of June, bookings to Spain, traditionally the most popular destination for British holidaymakers, were still down by 11 per cent, year-on-year – which was an improvement from early May, when the shortfall was 18 per cent.

The Co-operative Travel research also found a gain by Egypt and Turkey, as UK tourists chose destinations that were outside the eurozone, but not too far away.

Late Egypt bookings are 25 per cent higher than in 2008 at the same point, and those to Turkey have so far remained the same, although in more difficult trading conditions.

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