Palma proving a big hit in Liverpool

Palma.—Barcelona is closing the gap on Dublin as the most popular trip abroad for Merseyside flyers while Palma is also growing in popularity.
Despite the city’s long-established links to the Irish capital, it appears the pull of the Catalan city – with its stunning Gaudí architecture and Mediterranean climate – is proving a strong one for Liverpudlians.
Exclusive analysis of UK air traffic in the first nine months of 2014 show there have been 173,641 passengers between Liverpool John Lennon and Barcelona airports – up 11,685 on the same period in 2013.
Dublin, which remains in the number one spot, had 202,248.
But Malaga – which was the second most popular route last year –has dropped down to sixth with passenger numbers falling by 17,971 to 148,364.
As well as Barcelona, it has been overtaken by Alicante (156,150), Palma  (154,272) and Amsterdam (151,714).
Faro, Geneva, Madrid and Nice make up the rest of Liverpool’s top ten tourist hot-spots.