Brits head to Middle East for winter sun

Thousands of pasty Brits will head for the Middle East this winter in search of some sunshine and a break from the British winter.

Already this year, Jordan has experienced a 151 per cent increase in UK visitors, while Egypt has enjoyed a 54 per cent increase.

Turkey and Morocco have seen 27 per cent and 25 per cent increases respectively, figures from the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) show.

ABTA says that quality, value for money along with the desire to experience different cultures are the reasons behind the popularity of the Middle East this winter.

Some of the region's smaller countries - Oman, which lies on the east of the Saudi peninsula, and Eilat, which has been boosted by increased stability in Israel – are also expected to benefit.

ABTA president Martin Wellings said: "Everyone knows that tourism is a great way to broaden horizons, break down barriers and is the enemy of narrow-mindedness and bigotry.

"It's fantastic that the travel industry is bucking the political trend and that the Middle East is the new hot destination to be seen in."

Ten million Brits are set to take holidays during the winter season between November and March, with child-free couples increasingly taking their annual break during these months.

Despite the rising popularity of the Middle East, the most popular destinations this winter are expected to be: Spain, France, Cyprus, Turkey, the USA and the Caribbean.