Islamabad more popular than Ibiza among UK air travellers

[Khan_21]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/news/most-popular-destinations-britons-flights/

20 SEPTEMBER 2017 • 5:29PM



Islamabad is one of a host of surprising destinations to be high on British travellers’ agendas, with the Pakistani capital more popular than Madrid, Ibiza and Berlin, according to new figures.

In figures released by Skyscanner, the flight comparison website, showing bookings made through the website so far this year, Manila, in the Philippines, ranks higher than Rome – and Colombo higher than Prague.

Manila is another surprisingly popular route CREDIT: GETTY
In a comprehensive survey of where Britons are flying in 2017, from bookings up until September 11, Skyscanner has unearthed a few surprises.


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The top 10 offers few shocks, with traditional cities welcoming the most British travellers, though that two of the top three are long-haul shows a healthy appetite for flying further afield.

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The top 10 most popular destinations according to Skyscanner

1. Amsterdam
2. New York
3. Bangkok
4. Dublin
5. Dubai
6. London
7. Malaga
8. Barcelona
9. Alicante
10. Paris

The appearance of London is an indication that a large number of people are booking internal flights from airports such as Edinburgh and Belfast. Malaga, Barcelona and Alicante creating a Spanish cluster in the top 10 is evidence of Britain's enduring love of holidaying in Spain.

More people booked flights to Amsterdam than anywhere else in the world, according to Skyscanner CREDIT: GETTY
What are the most surprising destinations?

• The Pakistani capital of Islamabad sits high up in 14th place, ahead of Orlando, Milan and Lisbon. This is likely because the UK has the second largest expat Pakistani community in the world, behind only Saudi Arabia, of more than a million people (rather than because travellers are taking holidays in the sprawling city).
• Manila in the Philippines in 28th is higher than Copenhagen, Athens and Lanzarote. There are only about 200,000 Filipinos living in the UK, so much of this comes down to tourism in the region, which is rising.
• Lagos, in Nigeria, in 31st, welcomes more bookings from the UK than Munich, Las Vegas and Budapest. The Foreign Office says around 170,000 British nationals visit Nigeria each year, and there are some 216,000 Nigerians living in the UK.

 

[Indus Pakistan]

This is thanks to people like me.

 

[Thəorətic Muslim]

So more Pakistani expats are going to Pakistan than people going to EU destinations.

 

[defence_analyst]

No need to guess why.

 

[Khan_21]

It can't just be overseas Pakistani's because Mumbai and Delhi are ranked lower than Islamabad, Cities with much bigger population.

 

[war&peace]

This is thanks to people like me.

you're funny. But soon Pakistan will be a popular destination for Swedish people also. As 7 of them just visited Pakistan with me

 

[UnitedPak]

Seems odd. Would have expected Lahore and Karachi to rank much higher if it was mostly down to overseas Pakistanis.

 

[El Sidd]

Rowdy bunch these lots

 

[Sugarcane]

Seems odd. Would have expected Lahore and Karachi to rank much higher if it was mostly down to overseas Pakistanis.

You forgot AJK?

 

[Indus Pakistan]

It can't just be overseas Pakistani's because Mumbai and Delhi are ranked lower than Islamabad, Cities with much bigger population.

It is. Most British Indians are either Punjabi Sikhs who either use Amritsar or Chandigarh airports. Or they are from Indian Gujrat in which case they use some Gujji airport. Then you have the headshakers with white teeth, the techi geeks from Southern India who use Banglahore airport etc.

Ps. Evert flight I have been to Islamabad was packed with people from mirpuri, kotli, jhelumi, gujar khani, Attocki districts. Maybe a one or two hippie type English hidden away in the mound of screaming kids.

 

[Khan_21]

It is. Most British Indians are either Punjabi Sikhs who either use Amritsar or Chandigarh airports. Or they are from Indian Gujrat in which case they use some Gujji airport. Then you have the headshakers with white teeth, the techi geeks from Southern India who use Banglahore airport etc.

I would have expected Lahore or Karachi to be more popular than Islamabad If that's the reason. Islamabad being much safer or more westernized appeals to Brits more maybe.

 

[BATMAN]

Islamabad is a transit, they further travel on to Mirpur.

 

[Indus Pakistan]

Like I keep saying. Pakistan has only one industry. People export industry. That is why I am not bothered about CPEC killing Pakistani industry. As long as people export industry is alive everything is cool.

 

[A-Team]

This is thanks to people like me.

How is the party scene in Islamabad ?

 

[war&peace]

Seems odd. Would have expected Lahore and Karachi to rank much higher if it was mostly down to overseas Pakistanis.

Really why...? Do you think that when I leave my home in Atlanta or Stockholm, I would be happy to visit the dusty and overcrowded cities like Lahore and Karachi.
No sir, Lahore is extremely over-hyped and too overrated by Lahoris, I never found it attractive and it is nothing as compared to Islamabad or Abbottabad. BTW I have I family home in Lahore too. My Swedish friends like Islamabad but they were not so fond of Lahore after spending 6-hrs.