Get ready for the summer rush!

Though the Canary Islands have remained a popular holiday destination for many years, massive global expansion in the airline industry over the last two decades has enabled tourists to travel further afield in their search of sun, sea and adventure.

However, recent political unrest in popular middle-eastern destinations such as Egypt and Tunisia has led to large numbers of holidaymakers shunning the area in favour of western alternatives. The Canary Islands have been the biggest beneficiaries of this shift, with Tenerife, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura enjoying their busiest ever seasons.

Many airlines have recently reduced their number of flights to Egypt, and major travel agencies such as TUI and Thomas Cook have offered customers the option of either choosing a different destination or cancelling their trip altogether without incurring the usual penalties.

”The violent uprisings in places like Egypt, Tunisia and Morocco have definitely pushed Western European tourists back towards Spanish holiday destinations," Commented Andrew Jones of Azure Holidays. "Some of our villas in Spain are already booked for the entire year, so we advise customers to book early to avoid disappointment. We're at 100% occupancy for Canary Island locations over the Easter period, and there are only limited options left for the May half-term as well."