Brits escape wet weather

The economic downturn is not putting off Brits from taking holidays this year and the current bad weather is helping by making people even more eager to escape abroad for the summer.

It could be good news for investors with rental property in popular areas like Spain, Italy and France. The Association of British Travel Agents said people are cutting back in other areas rather than miss their annual summer holiday.

It is all about psychology. 'We are in a situation which is potentially quite depressing. One way to escape the current economic gloom is to take a foreign holiday,' said spokesman Sean Tipton.

He added that the poor weather in the UK has also contributed to the desire to book a trip overseas as areas such as the Mediterranean offer consistently good weather.

The long term summer weather forecast is not good for the UK with the Met Office predicting higher than average amounts of rain.

Last summer was a washout so the prospect of a second wet summer is also encouraging people to look abroad.

There is a historical precedence for this. According to ABTA previous economic downturns saw a similar demand for holidays in sunnier countries.

Morocco and Bulgaria could also benefit. But Spain is still one of the most popular holiday destinations. The latest figures show that in the first quarter of this year over 10.6 million holidaymakers arrived in Spain.

If we look at the sheer number of people going, Spain is still the number one top seller,' added Tipton.

Another trend identified by ABTA is that those visiting Spain don't just want to lie on a beach. They are keen to find good food and also take part in outdoor pursuits including golf, riding, walking and visiting parks and historic sites.

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