Despite a turbulent year of economic uncertainty, the liquidation of some high profile travel industry companies, increases in airline taxes, further job losses and government cuts, Britons are increasingly booking winter sun holidays year-on-year to escape the harsh British weather.

Winter sun holidays have moved away from their luxury, extravagant persona and have become a standard staple of holidaymakers’ yearly holiday budget.

Industry leaders are reporting that early bookings for winter sun holidays are growing year-on-year, with lowcostholidays.com reporting that 2010 is up 85 per cent on the same time last year.

The increased demand for winter sun holidays has seen an expansion in destination choice with travel companies’ introducing exotic locations like Morocco, Egypt andTunisia holidays to their portfolio of winter sun destinations.

While these new destinations continue to grow year on year, 2010 has seen a resurgence in demand for winter sun holidays to the Canary Islands.

The Canary Islands have been the traditional winter sun holiday destination choice for Britons for many years with its stunning beaches and winter temperatures averaging 20°C, however 2010 has seen a growth in demand that has put the Canaries back up at the top of the most popular winter sun holiday destination lists.
lowcostholidays.com has reported a 408 per cent increase in Fuerteventura bookings, 204 per cent increase in Tenerife bookings, 153 per cent growth in Gran Canaria bookings and a 92 per cent growth in Lanzarote bookings for winter 2010 to date.

Matt Hall, head of product at lowcostholidays.com, commented: “The growth of the Canary Islands for winter 2010 bookings has been fuelled by low cost airlines Ryanair and easyJet increasing their routes and capacity to the Canary Islands coupled with hotels and accommodation offering highly competitive rates.”

In an increasingly price sensitive market, the Canary Islands are offering better value for money than some other resort destinations with prices starting as low as £120 per person for a week in December and even better prices available on early bookings.

The growth of Canary Island winter holidays is encouraging evidence that Britons have not stopped going on holiday they simply demand great value for their money now more than ever.