Poland, Bulgaria and Croatia now on tourists’ most wanted list

Tourists are heading east on holiday to a trio of former Eastern Bloc countries in search of low prices and new sights to stimulate sore eyes.

With currency sales close to double last year’s levels, Poland heads the Post Office list of Fastest Growing Currencies, with Bulgaria and Croatia in fast pursuit.

Further east still, three long haul destinations – China, Egypt and Dubai - complete the line up of currencies whose growth levels are outstripping those of traditional favourites like Spain and Greece.

Short breaks to Polish cities led by Warsaw and Krakow are booming - thanks to the new routes added by low cost carriers to serve the UK’s swelling Polish community. By October when another new route is launched at Gatwick – the fourth one this year - 10 Polish destinations, including Szczecin and Poznan, will be served by nine UK airports.

Post Office head of travel services Kevin McAdam said: “While the bulk of travellers may be Poles flying between the UK and Poland, our branches have reported a big increase in demand for the Polish Zloty by UK holidaymakers.

“Flights and accommodation are cheap and costs are low in cultural centres like Warsaw and Krakow, which have shed their communist cloaks to become vibrant modern cities.” And the Poles are gearing up for a surge of UK holidaymakers by opening 100 new hotels this year – most of them offering 2* and 3* accommodation to cater for budget tourists.

Cheapest of 15 countries surveyed in the Post Office’s recent Holiday Costs Barometer, Bulgaria is also growing in popularity with UK holidaymakers. Offering both summer beach trips and the best value winter skiing in Europe, Bulgaria is the second Fastest Growing Currency with currency sales up 43 per cent year on year.

Third on the list is Croatia (+33 per cent year on year), which is well established as one of the in-vogue holiday destinations and drawing business away from Spain and Greece.

Kevin McAdam said: “With its leisure holiday market now propelling the country into the European big league, Croatia is becoming a magnet for people looking for second homes and we are seeing Kuna sales boom as a result.”

Further east, China continues to be a magnet for UK holidaymakers as its tours business builds and diversifies, with new trips to previously undiscovered areas of the country.

“With the Olympic Games just around the corner, we expect this year’s 30 per cent growth in Chinese Yuan sales to mushroom in the coming year,” said Kevin McAdam.

Strong demand for Dubai continues with Dirham sales showing consistent growth over the past decade, and Egypt is expected to cement its 25 per cent growth in currency sales this summer on the back of heavy discounting of summer sun packages.