Increase in winter Brits on the Costa

The Balearic government cannot blame the fall in British bookings to the Balearics on a general down turn in the British market. The British are over their fear of flying and are travelling again, but it appears that the Costa del Sol is where those coming to Spain have been going. Malaga airport said yesterday that last year, the number of British tourists flying down to the Costa del Sol rose by 11 per cent and outnumbered Spanish nationals. More importantly, September 11 did not effect Malaga's British market, with the Costa reporting increases in numbers for the last four months of last year compared to September to December 2000, a sharp contrast to Palma airport. The only similarity is that both airports experienced a fall in German tourists. Of the five million tourists who used Malaga airport last year, 38 per cent were British and the tourist industry is enjoying a busy winter and is looking forward to a positive summer season. No tourist tax on the Costa and September 11 does not seem to have dented Britain's lust for Spain.