Tourists ditch Ibiza for Corfu: British holidaymakers gamble on Greece for trips abroad after Spain quarantine was enforced – despite rising Covid cases
- Brits desperate for a break have set their sights on destinations in Greece
- Corfu, Santorini and Crete have all skyrocketed in popularity in the last week
- Previously the most sought after destinations were Barcelona and Malaga
British holidaymakers are gambling on trips to Greece instead of Spain, despite an increase in coronavirus cases in the country.
The government changed travel advice required people who return from Spain to England to quarantine for two weeks, devastating tourists looking forward to their summer holiday.
But Brits desperate for a foreign break have set their sights on destinations in Greece, such as Crete, Corfu and Santorini, as reported by The Sunday Telegraph.
Previously the most sought after destinations on Skyscanner, a flight booking website, were Ibiza, Barcelona and Malaga, but they have now dropped out of the top 10.
Jon Thorne, an expert at Skyscanner, said government changes to the quarantine list directly impacted on consumer behaviour.
Tourists sunbathe at Palmanova Beach on the Island of Mallorca in late July
He said: ‘The significant drop in searches and bookings to Spain from the UK on Skyscanner last week was a direct reaction to the current restrictions in the UK and uncertainty around travel to and from holiday favourites there.
‘Over the last few months, we have seen a direct correlation in search and booking data following changes in guidance.’
Greece has seen a relatively low number of Covid-19 cases in comparison with other European countries.
But it did record 121 new cases on Tuesday, which is its highest number since April 22, but still significantly below spikes in France and Spain.
Appearing on Sky News on Saturday, Rishi Sunak, the Chancellor, warned holidaymakers there was ‘always the risk of disruption to travel plans’.
Appearing on Sky News on Saturday, Rishi Sunak, the Chancellor, said that there was ‘always the risk of disruption to travel plans’
Martyn James, a consumer rights expert at Resolver, warned that anyone booking a holiday overseas at the moment was taking a risk.
He added: ‘Any holiday outside of this country booked at the moment carries a risk that you won’t be able to go or that you will have to quarantine on the way back. People going into it should be aware by now.
‘I am advising people to get it in writing that you will be able to move your hotel booking before you go. There is a chance that you won’t get any of your money back.’
Italy and Turkey are also proving popular destinations for Brits keen to travel to areas with lower levels of coronavirus infections.
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