Fewer Britons choosing EU countries for holidays

Thomas Cook says Spain is still the most popular destination for holidaymakers. Fewer British holidaymakers have booked a summer holiday inside the European Union this year amid continuing Brexit uncertainty, Thomas Cook has said. 

 

The travel firm says almost half (48%) of the holidays it sold up until the end of February were to non-EU destinations, up 10% on last year.

 

The figures are based on Post Office transactions between 1 January and 23 April. The Post Office accounts for about a quarter of all UK currency transactions.

 

It said the biggest growth in currency sales so far this year has been for the Egyptian pound, which has seen a 687% year-on-year increase.

Chief executive Peter Fankhauser said it was still too early to tell the impact on bookings of the UK's exit from the European Union being delayed to the end of October. But he said there was "little doubt that the prolonged uncertainty around the manner and timing of Britain's exit from the European Union has led many customers to press pause on their holiday plans for this summer".