A new poll of over 3,000 travellers has revealed Spain could soon see a surge in British tourists. The country instituted a strict smoking ban on 2nd January which caused nearly half* of Brits to say they are now more likely to consider Spain as a holiday destination this year. The ban is one of the strictest in Europe and prohibits smoking in all bars and restaurants, in television broadcasts, in playgrounds and near hospitals.
The TripAdvisor poll revealed the smoking ban has made 33% of Brits “much more likely” to consider a holiday in Spain this year, while another 10% are “a little more likely”. While many Brits welcome the change, a smoke-loving 15% are now “much less likely” to consider Spain this year.
This news, combined with the pound’s strength against the Euro, could be good news for Spain’s tourism industry. “Spain, a traditional favourite for British travellers, has taken a hit in recent years due to the Euro’s climb against the pound. Now that the smoking ban has been so well received by Brits and the exchange rate is at its most favourable for years, Spain may see UK travellers visiting en masse again,” comments Emma O’Boyle, TripAdvisor spokesperson.
*Poll carried out on 3,201 TripAdvisor.co.uk users between 20th and 27th January 2011
