On the Beach: Sunny European Spots Draw in British Tourists

MANCHESTER, England, July 14, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --

- According to On the Beach, holidays to sunny destinations in Europe and the Mediterranean continue to be popular with British tourists; information from the UNWTO adds weight to this conclusion -

On the Beach, the UK's leading online travel agency, has found that British tourists are increasingly drawn to sunny destinations in the Mediterranean and Southern Europe - the company based these conclusions on its own sales figures and feedback from customers.

Alistair Daly, Marketing Director of On the Beach, comments: "During the summer months we have seen a significant amount of interest in destinations in this area - holidays to Majorca, Costa Blanca and Greece have proved particularly popular as resorts in these spots offer the chance to relax in some truly beautiful surroundings."

Information from the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) has also pointed to the popularity of this part of the world: international visits to Southern and Mediterranean Europe reached 169.7 million in 2010, far more than any other region on the continent. According to the UNWTO this area accounted for over 18 per cent of global international tourist arrivals that year.

Daly concludes that the popularity of these spots owes to numerous factors, yet convenience and cost are the most powerful motivators. He states: "Southern Europe and the Mediterranean are home to many beautiful resorts, yet it is the convenience of this part of the world that really stands out: Brits can book a last minute family holiday and be on their way in no time. With great deals and packages these trips are as affordable as they are convenient; given this set of circumstances it's easy to see why so many of our customers come here year after year."

About On the Beach:

Founded in 1995, On the Beach is one of the UK's leading online travel agencies carrying over 500,000 passengers every year (ABTA K0813). On the Beach provides value for money flights and hotels in the world's most popular beach holiday destinations. On the Beach provides consumers with a huge selection of travel products, from 50 million available seats, more than 30,000 hotels around the world, insurance and in-resort transfer partners. Customers can book online at http://www.onthebeach.co.uk or by calling the UK call centre on 0870 606 07 08.

As the expert provider of DIY beach holidays to the UK market, On the Beach is so confident of its industry leading position, it offers a market leading price match guarantee for its customers. On the Beach will refund the difference if a lower price is found for the same product on any UK website*.

*Offer applies to exact product match

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