Leading cheap flight site Skyscanner reveals this summer’s fastest growing destinations for British holidaymakers, and those that are losing out.
With anti-eurozone sentiment still strong, it seems that Brits are increasingly looking to non-euro destinations for their summer holidays this year. Thailand, the USA and Portugal are the top three climbers; at the other end of the scale, the Czech Republic, Ireland and Cyprus have had the greatest drop in popularity.

Going Up - the biggest rising summer holiday destinations for Brits

1.  Bangkok, Thailand (+271%)

2.  Los Angeles, USA (+170%)

3.  Porto, Portugal (+163%)

4.  Dalaman, Turkey (+160%)

5.  Orlando, USA (+158%)

6.  Istanbul, Turkey (+157%)

7.  Sharm El Sheik, Egypt (+156%),br>
8.  Bodrum, Turkey (+153%)

9.  Burgas, Bulgaria (+152%)

10.  Oslo, Norway (+143%)

Biggest rises in flight searches on Skyscanner.net for summer 09 (May 1st-Aug 30th) compared to summer 08. Flights from UK airports.

It’s a telling sign that with the exception of Portugal’s Porto, the destinations that have experienced the biggest growth in interest are all non-euro destinations. 

Bangkok has seen by far the biggest rise in the number of searches with 271% growth year on year. Although Thailand has long been a favourite entry point to Asia for backpackers, it’s seems to be moving into the mainstream destination for families and couples. The troubles that Thailand has experienced recently with political unrest are clearly not putting travellers off.

US destinations are also on the rise, with LA and Orlando interest up considerably, despite the strengthening US dollar.

Egypt and Bulgaria are both proving more popular this summer. Though both have been favourites with Brits for several years, the emphasis on value this summer is clearly making these non-euro beach spots more attractive to British holiday makers.

Overall, Turkey is the single biggest winner, with three of the top ten fastest growing destinations being in the country. This is most likely due to the rise in strength of the euro compared to last summer, and the perceived expense of eurozone destinations.

Turkey’s share of the summer holiday market is likely growing at the expense of neighbouring eurozone Greece as well as established beach favourites in Spain and Cyprus.

Oslo is somewhat of an anomaly as Norway has always been an expensive country. Factors such as marketing campaigns and increased press coverage for Oslo and Norway may be influencing travellers, as well as the existence of cheap flight campaigns.
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