OLE! Scots holidaymakers have consummated their love affair with sombreros, sangria and the sunshine isle of Majorca.
As the number of people taking an overseas package holiday this summer is set to break through the 10 million barrier for the first time, a record one in six Scots will head for the Balearic beauty spot off mainland Spain. Last year, one in seven Scots jetted to Majorca.
The figures are revealed in the 1998 market update by travel firm Lunn Poly.
Turkey's value for money coupled with clean beaches and sparkling sea makes it the second favourite choice. One in 12 Scots will head for Turkey this summer, the same number as last year, while Florida is the third most popular choice, Ibiza the fourth and Tenerife the fifth.
A spokesman for Lunn Poly said: ''It seems the Scots' love affair with Majorca shows no signs of tailing off.
''Obviously many people must return and recommend the island to their friends. Majorca offers very good value for money and has great facilities for families with young children.
''There has been a concerted effort to clean up resorts like Magaluf and Palma Nova recently and this has made the island more popular than ever.''
Majorca is the most popular summer destination in all areas of Britain, but the island takes a larger share of the market in Scotland than elsewhere.
Lunn Poly's figures also reveal that the number of people going on overseas summer holidays this year is predicted to break the 10 million barrier for the first time.
The firm's research shows that city breaks have shown the greatest growth of any type of holiday. While Paris and Amsterdam remain firm favourites for a few days away, Madrid has increased tourist numbers by 100%.
Bruges and Brussels have benefited from improved rail links to show strong growth and Dublin is the second fastest growing city break destination.
British holidaymakers, meanwhile, are getting more for their money in most destinations this year compared with 1997. A half pint of beer is down 30p in Spain, 25p in Portugal and 86p in Hong Kong.
A package of facts
qJanuary is the most popular month for booking a summer package.
qLong-haul holidays took an 11% share of the market in 1997.
qA record 3.7m people took a winter package in 1997-98 and 3.9m are expected to do so in 1998-99.
qTop winter destination in 1997-98 was Tenerife.
qGreece is best value for money, the pound having grown by almost 50% against the drachma since 1993.
qAugust is the most popular month to leave on a foreign package, followed by July and June.
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