Holiday bookings for both the winter and summer seasons increased significantly in January and February, according to travel sector organisation ANVR.

Winter bookings rose by 6.8% in the first two months of 2017 compared to the year-earlier period. Summer holiday bookings were 9.6% higher in the same period, the ANVR said.

Greece, Italy, Spain and its islands are the most popular summer destinations. There were more bookings for Egypt, but Turkish holidays were less popular.

‘We started off well in 2017. Consumer confidence is higher and this has resulted in more bookings,’ said Frank Oostdam, director of the ANVR.