British holidaymakers are ditching bargain breaks in European hotspots for affordable high-quality vacations in an entirely new continent, travel companies report.
Many UK tourists are flocking to north Africa for holidays due to its year-round warm weather, rich cultural heritage and budget-friendly luxury, offering a cost-effective alternative to popular tourism spots such as Spain, Portugal and Italy.
Travel firms are reporting a significant shift in travel preferences, with Morocco, Egypt, Tunisia experiencing a boom in British visitors thanks to its competitive pricing, and top-tier accommodation.
Airlines are responding to the demand, with flights from UK airports to north Africa increasing significantly, according to Cirium.
Figures show 19,847 flights are expected to depart from the UK airports on routes headed to north Africa this year – more than double the 8,653 flights recorded in 2019.
Meanwhile, flights to Spain and Portugal are projected to increase by just 10 per cent and 9 per cent respectively over the same period.
This indicates tourists who are seeking sun and high-quality hotels for less are willing to take longer flights to reach these destinations – even if it means forgoing reclining seats and onboard entertainment.
Flights from London Gatwick Airport to Egypt generally take around 5 hours and 30 minutes, with direct flights available to destinations like Sharm El Sheikh and Hurghada.
British holidaymakers are ditching bargain breaks in European hotspots for affordable high-quality vacations in an entirely new continent, travel companies report (Pictured: Benidorm, Alicante, Spain)
Many UK tourists are flocking to north Africa for holidays due to its year-round warm weather, rich cultural heritage and budget-friendly luxury (Pictured: Madeira island Funchal, Portugal)
Pictured: Ait-Ben-Haddou, Ksar or fortified village in Ouarzazate province, Morocco
Though the bustling Spanish hotspot of Alicante is much closer, with flights typically taking 2 hours and 30 minutes, passengers would only be spending an extra three hours on the plane to Egypt.
However, Morocco is a more accessible travel option than Egypt, with a shorter flight duration from London to Marrakech averaging 3 hours and 45 minutes.
In March, easyJet launched flights between Gatwick and Cape Verde, off the coast of west Africa – its longest route serving England at a distance of 2,332 nautical miles over 6 hours and 10 minutes.
Travel company TUI said bookings from flight-only and package holiday customers for summer breaks in Egypt are 30 per cent higher compared with a year ago, as reported by the Independent.
Additionally, it said Tunisia saw ‘double-digit growth,’ while demand for Morocco surges.
Online accommodation marketplace Booking.com reported a 68 per cent increase in the number of searches for breaks in Tunisia from January until May of this year compared with the same time frame in 2024.
Egypt and Morocco experienced a boost of 64 per cent and 39 per cent respectively.
Pictured: Souvenir shops in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt
Pictured: South Sinai (Sharm El-Sheikh), Egypt
Pictured: Riad Kniza, Marrakesh, Morocco, North Africa
As well as year-round pleasant weather, north Africa boasts rich cultural heritage, bustling cities, stunning beaches and desert landscapes, establishing it as a leading destination for tourists this summer.
Meanwhile, British expats are flocking to a seldom-visited Mediterranean country dubbed the ‘Maldives of Europe’ with living costs a fraction of the UK and 300 sunny days a year.
Bargain-loving Brits say they are choosing to live in Albania, a formerly communist state overlooking the Adriatic and Ionian seas, describing it as ‘prettier than Greece and much cheaper’.
Despite allegations from Albanian migrants that the country is unsafe when trying to claim asylum in the UK after crossing the English Channel, MailOnline has discovered many Brits are now heading the other way.
