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03 October 2013 09:15
Ski breaks are popular among 16 to 24-year-olds
Winter sports holidays are becoming more popular as figures show that the number of people planning to go on the piste has leapt up.
A survey of more than 2,000 consumers by travel organisation Abta shows that 15% of those taking a break in the coming months are opting for skiing and snowboarding holidays.
This compares with just 10% in a similar poll carried out at the same time last year.
While ski trip bookings have risen over the past 12 months, winter sun breaks are still the most popular choice for holidaymakers, making up 40% of the planned trips for 2013/14.
Not surprisingly perhaps, people wanting to escape from the cold of a UK winter are seeking sunnier climes, with the Canary Islands the most popular destination, followed by Greece, Malta and Tunisia.
Top destinations for long-haul travellers include the Caribbean, Mexico and Dubai, while popular city-break locations include Amsterdam, Bruges, Prague, Berlin and New York.
Although winter sun holidays are particularly popular among 55 to 64-year-olds, ski breaks are being snapped up mainly by those aged 16 to 24, who should always make sure they have sports travel insurance before doing anything too adventurous.
Abta has loads of winter sports tips for travellers heading to resorts in France, Italy and Austria, which remain the most popular destinations.
Top spots are the French resorts of Espace Killy and Trois Vallees, as well as Sauze d'Oulx in Italy and the Austrian resorts of Kitzbuhel and St Anton.
Victoria Bacon, head of communications at Abta, said: "Winter can be a great time for a holiday as there's no other season where such a range of holidays are so easily available to British holidaymakers.
"It's no wonder that taking a break at this time of year is consistently popular, whether people are seeking sun, snow or a city break."
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