Delicious Spanish delicacies draw tourists

The number of people booking holidays in Spain is on the up as the lure of the local cuisine tempts more and more travellers to regions in the north of the country.

According to Carmen Hernández Gómez, market analyst at the Spanish Tourism Office, emerging tourism destinations in the north of the country are becoming popular due to the interest in food and wine from the region.

"City breaks in places like Madrid, Seville, Valencia, Oviedo, San Sebastian and Barcelona offer the chance to see art, do shopping, sample lovely food and wine, and all under the Spanish sun," Ms Gómez said.

With more flights now offered to destinations like Asturias, Galicia, Leon, Ms Gomez said that it is now easier for travellers to explore parts of Spain that they may not have visited yet.

Tourism officials in Spain expect to see a boost in tourist numbers as travellers who had hoped to visit Tunisia or Egypt look for an alternative destination.

According to Lloyds TSB Insurance, house swapping has become increasingly popular for Brits with 15 per cent of those looking for a swap in Spain.