SPANISH HOLIDAY PRICE WAR LOOMING

SPAIN'S main travel agents are poised to launch a price war in a bid to inject some movement into summer holiday sales.
At present, holiday sales for July and August are down on last year and travel agents are starting to offer major incentives for people booking early.
Booking at the last minute has become increasingly popular in Spain, like the rest of Europe, with people holding out for the last minute bargain. But the travel industry has turned that on its head this year and is offering the best bargains for those who book early. On the mainland, some travel agents are offering savings of nearly 20 percent on holidays to the Balearics and the Canaries this year. What is more, Spanish tour companies and destinations are facing tough competition from other Mediterranean holiday spots which have already reported significant increases in tourism this year. Turkey, for example, is enjoying a 30 percent rise in visitor numbers, Morocco 33 percent and Egypt 12 percent.- Not only are these attracting foreign tourists away from Spain, but also Spaniards away from traditional domestic destinations.