Bookings to Greece surge as British holidaymakers flee Spain

British holidaymakers are flocking to Greece in instead of Spain as the busiest month for summer holidays gets underway.

It comes as Europe's largest tour operator Tui extended the cancellation of all UK holidays to the Spanish Balearic Islands and Canary Islands until August 10 and all holidays to mainland Spain until August 17. Jet2 has also been contacting customers already on holiday there and requesting they fly home earlier; sending empty planes to repatriate them due to a covid outbreak.

Both operators have added extra added services to Greece in order to meet demand.

Greece has fared well through the pandemic compared to the rest of Europe, with only 3.7 new Covid-19 cases per 100,000 residents in the past 14 days. The UK has registered 14 per 100,000 over the same period.

Cyprus also today opened up to British holidaymakers – its biggest tourist demographic – after restrictions were dropped against UK arrivals. The island initially planned to welcome us back on July 15 but the date was postponed when our infection rates failed to fall to levels that Cyprus considered safe.