South-eastern Spanish area the Costa Blanca has been identified as the favourite location for domestic Spanish holidaymakers.

Iberian specialist website TypicallySpanish.com claimed that national statistics institute figures showed a big gain for the region in October, with the Costa Blanca overtaking even prime winter locations like the Canary Islands.

The upsurge of domestic visitors flocking to towns like Alicante brought 153,000 Spanish nationals to the popular Costa, making it the most popular location for October holidays.

While autumnal visits to the area may have taken more of a couples city break form, the region also showed its popularity for summer family holidays in the sun, with some 600,000 Spaniards claimed to have headed for the Costa over July and August.

While domestic visitors play a considerable part in boosting the economy of Spanish holiday areas, overseas travellers and property seekers are also in abundance in regions like the Costa Blanca.

National statistics for non-hotel accommodation stays in Spain showed that through October British visitors accounted for 44 per cent, followed by Germans, on 22 per cent.