The Brits are coming...

The other day wrote posted about the new visa-free status for Russians that is expected to raise the number of Russians coming to Morocco for holidays.... well, news from the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) says Britons also think Morocco a great destination and the numbers are up.

Around two million UK travellers are set to holiday abroad this festive season, with Turkey and Middle East destinations among the most popular.

So far this year there has been a 54% increase in UK visitors to Egypt, a 27% increase to Turkey, around a 25% increase to Morocco and a 15% increase to Jordan, according to latest figures from travel agents.

While the backbone of winter holiday destinations remains the Canary Islands and the USA, but medium and long-haul trips had become much more popular.
Other hot destinations this year include Dubai and Oman, with the top winter locations for 2005/06 being Spain, France, Cyprus, Turkey, the USA and the Caribbean.

Morocco, currently hosting around 1,600 delegates at the ABTA annual convention, is set to welcome around 215,000 Britons this year as more tour operators begin programmes to the country.

ABTA's Martin Wellings said: "Everyone knows that tourism is a great way to broaden horizons, break down barriers and is the enemy of narrow-mindedness and bigotry.

"It's fantastic that the travel industry is bucking the political trend and that the Middle East is the new hot destination to be seen in.''

Tags: Morocco, Fès, travel, Fez,