Spain sees tourism jump due to arab revolts

Activity in Spain's tourism sector jumped 2.4 percent in the first quarter of the year as sunseekers shunned rival resorts in Egypt and Tunisia because of anti-government uprisings there, a trade association said Wednesday.

The Canary Islands archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean and major cities on the mainland were the main beneficiares, thanks to the recovery of business tourism and to foreigners taking short breaks, the Exceltur umbrella tourism trade association said.

There was "a notable increase of 2.4 percent of tourism GDP in the first quarter, the biggest increase of all the sectors of the economy," it said.

"The strong and unexpected surge in activity is mainly due to the current redirection of overseas demand from Egypt and Tunisia, which has benefited the Canaries almost exclusively."

Source: The Independent