Currency exchange 'boosts European travel interest'

Britons are showing an increasing interest in breaks in Europe following a recent period of strength for the pound's currency exchange rate.

This morning (June 11th) at 08:15 BST sterling bought $1.473.

According to Hotels.com, there has been a recent increase in the number of British people carrying out searches for hotels in Europe.

The website claimed the search figures had "risen dramatically" as sterling has reached its highest levels against the euro since December 2008.

This means that travellers will have an extra ten per cent spending power in their pockets.

However, David Tarsh, managing director of Tarsh Consulting, suggested that governments in Europe are penalising the travel industry.

"Governments continue to tax [the travel industry] like a tax cow. Look at the UK, we've suddenly had a big wake of air passenger duty tax," he said.

He also noted that "travel and tourism represents about eight per cent of GDP" and suggested that this is likely to continue to grow.

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Posted by Sarah Pitton