Denied the pleasure of holidays in southern European in 2020, travellers are now making renewed plans to ensure they can enjoy a sunny getaway this year. And, once again, the Algarve region remains at the top of many people’s travel lists – especially Britons.
According to a press release from the Algarve Tourism Association, global travel research company Skyscanner has noted a surge in the number of British people focusing on the Algarve for their next holiday in 2021.
Faro, home to the region’s international airport, leads the way in the top-five searches for a European destination, followed by Málaga (on Spain’s Costa del Sol), the Spanish islands of Palma de Mallorca and Ibiza, and Dalaman in Turkey.
The study found that the (then pending) arrival of COVID-19 vaccines had boosted interest among UK tourists keen to travel abroad in spring and summer 2021. The latest data available showed, from the UK market, a weekly increase of 48 percent in the number of searches – for trips between 1 April and 31 August next year.
“Although it is premature to draw conclusions,” said Turismo do Algarve president João Fernandes, “these seem to be promising indicators for tourism and for the Algarve in particular. Throughout these months, we have been reinforcing the message that the Algarve is a safe destination, fully prepared to welcome its tourists again with the welcome to which they have always been accustomed.
“That perception is now very present in tourists, namely in the British, so we believe that the Algarve is well-positioned to receive these travellers again, as the confidence levels for travel begin to increase.”
British Airways January Sale
Meanwhile, the Algarve is one of the popular global destinations included in British Airways’ “January Sale”.
The airline is offering special deals on flights and holidays to over 100 destinations across its global network. Travel dates are available throughout 2021, but customers must book by 2 February 2021.
In Club Europe (short-haul business class) travellers can travel to Faro for £189 return; and customers can also choose from a selection of European beach breaks such as the Algarve (including flights and hotels) from £189 per person.
British Airways noted in a press release that customers booking flights or holiday breaks in the sale “can do so with absolute confidence, thanks to the airline’s flexible booking policy. Customers are able to exchange their booking for a voucher, or move their dates without incurring a change fee.” Safety is also “at the heart of British Airways’ business, and the airline has introduced a range of protective measures on the ground and in the sky to keep its customers and crew safe”.
Cardiff to Faro Flights by Wizz Air
In other good news for 2021, Wizz Air has announced that its new permanent base at Cardiff Airport will offer low-cost flights to major European tourist destinations including Faro next year.
The Hungarian budget airline said it planned to schedule nine routes to destinations such as Faro, Alicante and Tenerife, as well as seasonal routes to Corfu and Palma – plus Sharm El Sheikh and Lanzarote available during the winter season.
The new base at Cardiff Airport in Wales will be Wizz Air’s fourth in the UK, joining London Luton, Gatwick and Doncaster Sheffield. It will be home to a single-aircraft Airbus A321, and is scheduled to provide an additional 350,000 seats from Cardiff each year.
Flights to Faro Airport are scheduled for Thursdays and Sundays (summer) and Tuesdays and Saturdays (winter), starting from 28 March.