Leading online travel agent On the Beach reports a rise in sales of last minute flight and hotel deals to winter sun destinations, with latest figures up almost 40% compared to October 2008.

Sales of late deals to beach destinations across the globe are outperforming sales of 2008. The most popular destinations and the biggest movers include the USA (up 11%), the Caribbean (up 16%) and the Canary Islands (up 19%).

The Canary Island of Tenerife is proving to be the most popular winter sun destination with sales up 11% year on year.

Holidaymakers are grabbing late deals with the news that hoteliers around the world are reducing prices by up to 30% due to occupancy levels at an all time low.

Winter sun holidays are being extended this year, with the average stay up to nine nights compared to seven nights in 2008. With many Britons taking a shorter summer holiday this year, this increase may be due to many still have much of their annual holiday entitlement left.

With the UK slowly dragging itself out of recession, summer 2010 also seems set to be busy with On the Beach reporting forward sales up more than 20% year on year. At the moment, Turkey is a favourite to be the number one choice yet again, however sales to Spain are also looking very positive.

Simon Cooper, Chief Executive Officer at On the Beach comments; “With more people choosing to holiday at home in summer 2009 than in previous years, it’s encouraging to see the late deals market picking up. With hoteliers and airlines slashing prices, there are so many fantastic deals around at the moment. Summer 2010 is set to be another good season for Turkey but I expect Euro destinations to fare much better next year.”