AS Scotland's summer struggles to splutter into life, millions of us are deciding to forget all about the credit crunch and jet off for some sunshine. Ever since the package holiday market got off the ground in the 1960s, our first choice has been Sp
ain – cheap, cheerful and, of course, sunny.
Now, though, when it comes to choosing package deals, it seems Spain is no longer at the top of so many itineraries.
It may still be the number one destination for holidaymakers flying out of Edinburgh, but its previously unrivalled position at the top of the charts is starting to slip. Growing numbers of us are choosing Turkey for package deals, where – outside the eurozone – our holiday spending money goes that bit further.
In an analysis of more than 200,000 package holiday and flight-only bookings, Co-op Travel found that almost a third more Britons were heading to Turkey this summer compared with last year.
Bookings to the Spanish island of Majorca, the previous top choice, were down 13 per cent, as customers think twice because of the unfavourable exchange rate with the euro.
"Bookings from people looking for cheap summer sun have traditionally ensured Spain was the leading holiday destination," says Trevor Davis, head of retail distribution at Co-op Travel.
"However, this year they are finding the high euro and a shortage of availability means the normal late deals are not available. Turkey has benefited most from this trend and we are seeing 30 per cent growth in bookings for holidays across all parts of the country."
The numbers flying to Turkey from Edinburgh have almost doubled in the past five years. Spain, though, remains our number one destination by some distance. In the past year, around 626,000 passengers have flown between Edinburgh and Spain, compared with 34,000 flying to and from Turkey.
"If we look at the sheer number of people going, Spain is still the number one top seller," says a spokesman for the Association of British Travel Agents. "But what is true is that people are no longer necessarily going to Spain for a package holiday.
"Some 500,000 people from the UK have holiday homes in Spain, and if they're not there they are lending them to their friends and family.
"Turkey, however, is very much a package holiday destination and they are building more hotels because its popularity is increasing. Growth is particularly strong this year because it's a very good value destination, especially given the strong euro against the pound."
Despite the so-called credit crunch, ABTA says bookings this year remain strong. Indeed, Edinburgh Airport has just experienced the busiest start to the summer holiday season on record.
Even so, our holiday habits are changing – and as we get a taste for what overseas cultures have to offer we are going further afield in search of new experiences and adventures.
"What we have seen is a revolution over the last five years in terms of the number of direct international services available from Edinburgh Airport," says BAA's Kevin Lang. "We are seeing strong international growth across the board."
A decade ago, unless you wanted to travel to Paris, Amsterdam, Dublin and Frankfurt, you would not be able to fly from Edinburgh Airport. Today you can fly direct from the Capital to more than 100 different destinations.
This explains the 14-fold increase in passenger numbers to and from Switzerland, with budget airlines such as Flyglobespan and easyJet setting up shop at the Capital's airport.
Holidaying outwith the eurozone is also becoming increasingly popular, with America, Dubai, Thailand and Australia hotspot destinations this summer.
"Edinburgh's direct connectivity to the world has, without question, brought a greater choice for people in terms of the number of destinations that can be reached direct," adds Mr Lang. "What we've seen is people still travelling to the traditional holiday hotspots like Spain, but also travelling to other countries in Europe and further afield as well."
The type of holiday many of us are looking for has also changed, with many of us going away more often but for shorter periods. While Spain remains popular, many of us want something more satisfying than a two-week stay on a Canary Island beach, and are looking to experience the rich city culture of Barcelona, Valencia or Madrid.
"I think the fact that people are travelling more than they've ever done before has meant that people are more open-minded and more curious about visiting countries and cities that probably wouldn't have been high on a list some years ago," says Mr Lang.
So even if our grip on our purse strings grows ever tighter, it seems there is no shortage of fun in the sun to be had. With access to ever more destinations, the only difficulty might be choosing where to go.
The full article contains 852 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
