Currency fluctuations in Europe do not appear to be denting the appeal of traditional tourism hotspots, according to industry analysts.

The Association of British Travel Agents stated that countries such as Spain are still proving to be very popular with holidaymakers from the UK.

This is despite the fact that many Britons are dealing with rising living costs at home, while their financial woes have been compounded by the weakness of the pound against the euro.

However, spokesperson Frances Tuke believes consumers are brushing off these concerns and continuing to book their holidays as normal.

She commented: “Spain is holding up very well.

“We know from previous recessions that holidays are the last things that people are prepared to give up.”

This comes after research by Mondial Assistance revealed that nearly one in three consumers from the UK are planning to take their summer holiday in Spain this year.

Budget-conscious Britons are spending less on luxury items to make sure they can afford a holiday, new research has revealed.

According to Kayak.co.uk, 95 per cent of people in the UK consider going on holiday more important that owning a home, being in a relationship or having a car, reports Reuters.

Therefore, people affected by the ongoing downturn in the British economy are cutting back in some areas in order to pay for a trip overseas.

Annie Wilson, business development director at the website, commented: “As a nation, we’ve always been much more likely to explore the four corners of the earth than to buy the latest flat screen TV.”

She added that if financially prudent consumers are prepared to be flexible, they could still find “the perfect trip” at a reasonable price.

Earlier this week, the Association of British Travel Agents stated that the number of bookings for this summer has been very healthy.

The popularity of Spain among British holidaymakers has led to a surge in the number of people passing through a UK airport.

According to new figures, more than 534,000 people travelled through East Midlands Airport during May 2008 - 10.7 per cent up on the same period of 2007.

This was said to be partially due to the two bank holidays, which saw many local people jet off to places including Alicante and Malaga.

The two Spanish cities were flagged up as two of the most popular destinations for air passengers during this period.

Penny Coates, managing director of East Midlands Airport, commented: “This is a remarkable achievement given the current industry trends.”

This is the first time that monthly passenger numbers have exceeded half a million at the transport hub.

Spain was recently named as the most popular holiday destination among European consumers by Mondial Assistance.

Consumers in the UK are continuing to book holidays to other countries, according to industry experts.

The Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) stated that the number of bookings for this summer has been very healthy.

This is despite the fact that many are facing various financial constraints as a result of the credit crunch and rising fuel prices.

ABTA spokesperson Sean Tipton said this shows that going on holiday is now widely seen as a necessity rather than a luxury.

He commented: “It’s something that is very much part of our lives.”

Mr Tipton added that poor climate in the UK has partly fuelled this trend, as people can expect to get “consistently good weather” in the Mediterranean.

This comes after research by Mondial Assistance revealed that nearly one in three consumers from the UK are planning to take their summer holiday in Spain this year.

Most British holidaymakers do not know the language of the country they are visiting, according to a new study.

Research by LateRooms.com revealed that 81 per cent of tourists from the UK are unwilling to take a phrase book or dictionary with them when heading overseas.

More than half of those polled were found to be unable to recognise basic phrases in the language of their holiday destination, while one in three said they rely on the ability of locals to speak fluent English.

Chris Morris, managing director of LateRooms.com, commented: “A phrase book or dictionary doesn’t take up much room in a suitcase and British tourists will be surprised at how far a couple of useful phrases can go.”

He said learning the language is a good way for people to broaden their horizons, communicate with local people and soak up the culture.

This comes after a poll by LateRooms.com found that 15 per cent of British adults do not know where Spain is on a normal map.

ITV1’s Bafta-nominated sitcom Benidorm is set to return to Britain’s TV screens for a third series.

Eight episodes of the show, which stars Johnny Vegas and Steve Pemberton, have been commissioned along with an hour-long special.

Peter Fincham, director of television at ITV, said he is “delighted” that the popular series will be coming back next year.

He commented: “Benidorm has a fantastic mix of warmth, charm, and fun.”

The sitcom, which was created by Derren Little, was recently credited with inspiring a surge of interest in holidays to the region.

According to LateRooms.com, the number of bookings for trips to Benidorm doubled throughout the duration of its second series earlier this year.

Kathy Gwinnett, spokesperson for the website, praised the resort for offering a number of different attractions for holidaymakers, including affordable hotels, good beaches and a very lively atmosphere.

Much of the TV series was filmed at the Hotel Sol Pelicanos-Ocas in Benidorm, while many scenes were also recorded at places such as Morgan’s Tavern.

Spain has been named as the most popular holiday destination among Europeans by Mondial Assistance.

According to the organisation, 25.3 per cent of people flying within Europe for their summer breaks will visit the country.

Spain was found to be a particularly popular choice among British people, as 30 per cent of tourists from the UK are heading there for their holidays.

In addition, figures showed that it will attract more than one in three leisure travelers from Switzerland this summer.

However, the nation was also found to be especially popular with Spaniards, as 35.8 per cent of tourists from Spain are not planning to venture to foreign shores.

Instead, this group intends to remain within the country and enjoy attractions closer to home.

This comes after the Typically Spanish website cited official figures showing that more than 15 million people took a holiday in Spain between January and April 2008.

A British expatriate has spoken to the BBC about his move from the UK to Spain’s Costa Blanca region.

Eric and Viola Summers relocated to Torrevieja back in 1999 and believe their lives have improved considerably as a result.

Speaking to BBC News, Mr Summers said the Costa Blanca offers a much better quality of life, partly because it has excellent weather.

He added that the region also has many cultural attractions, such as concerts and shows, as well as good public services.

In particular, the local hospitals were described as “tremendous”.

Mr Summers also believes he is financially better off in Spain than in the UK, even though both countries have been affected by issues such as rising fuel prices.

He commented: “We’re still much better off than we would be in England.

“If we were living there we’d have to be on benefits.”

This comes after Saga Travel Money suggested that expats save money by purchasing locally-sourced goods rather than imported items from home.

Authorities in the Costa del Sol have outlined plans to integrate foreign nationals into the local community.

According to the Typically Spanish website, a new programme has been set up by Marbella Town Hall to improve community relations.

The resort in the Costa del Sol is currently a highly popular destination for expatriates from other countries.

However, local authorities believe that more could be done to bring them closer together with the existing population.

Tourism councillor Jose Luis Hernandez said the council is organising a series of summer activities designed to build relations between the various nationalities.

People from 136 different countries currently reside in Marbella on a permanent basis.

This comes after a study by the Andalucian Statistics Institute concluded that residents of Marbella are currently enjoying a very high quality of life.

Commenting on the study, Homes Worldwide said the findings are not very surprising, as its popularity with wealthy expats demonstrates its desirability.

Fuel prices in Spain are relatively low in comparison to other European countries, according to new figures.

Statistics from the Post Office show that unleaded petrol costs £1 a litre in Spain - 30 per cent less than in Belgium and the Netherlands.

In addition, the research revealed that a litre of diesel costs 94p a litre at Spanish petrol stations, making it 26 per cent cheaper than the UK.

This has prompted the Post Office to recommend that British people who plan to take a motoring holiday overseas consider visiting the country.

The organisation commented: “Spain emerges as the best value destination for UK holidaymakers in Europe.”

In addition, it stated that the cost of hiring a car is also much lower than in neighbouring European countries.

This comes after a study by American Express found that ten per cent of British families are considering going on a driving holiday in Europe this summer.