Holidaymakers are increasingly booking their trips to Spain on the internet, new research has found.

According to Google Spain’s travel division, 31 per cent of all holidays in the country during the year to date have been booked online.

Javier Gonzalez-Soria, head of the organisation, said this figure is expected to increase over the next few years as more people embrace the internet as a means of purchasing goods and services.

He said the growth of the web has “radically changed” the behaviour of travel consumers in the last decade.

This was largely attributed to the fact that leading tourist destinations such as Spain have taken full advantage of the opportunities this medium has to offer.

For example, the country was praised for using online advertising and making itself visible on search engines.

This comes after online travel agency Freedom Direct revealed that the strong euro has not impacted on the number of bookings for Spain.

There are ten reasons why Spain is still the world’s top destination for British holidaymakers, expatriates and second home buyers, a foreign property website has stated.

According to Homes Worldwide, the affordable cost of living, convenient access from UK airports and perks of property ownership are all major attractions for Brits - new homes often come with a ten-year guarantee against defects, while holiday home owners can take advantage of a “robust” rental market.

In addition, good employment prospects, political stability, excellent schools and a reliable healthcare system make life in Spain appealing and potentially long-lasting - the average lifespan of people residing in the country is one of the longest in Europe.

This is partly a result of the healthy traditional Spanish diet - food is another reason for the nation’s enduring popularity among British people and there are many fine restaurants in which to sample the gastronomic Iberian culture.

Finally, the friendly nature of the Spanish people and year-round warm climate, particularly in the southern regions, also ensure that people continue to leave the UK and start a new life in Spain, Homes Worldwide states.

A recent report from industry association Exceltur predicted that the Spanish tourism industry will grow by 1.8 per cent this year.