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New flights to a lesser-known island destination could be gamechanger for holiday-making Brits, offering the sunshine and sandy beaches of a Caribbean getaway at budget costs. TUI will launch new six-hour flights from East Midlands Airport to Boa Vista, a desert-like island in Cape Verde, off the African coast, this week. The holiday company will fly the first British tourists to the idyllic spot on Saturday, April 26, with journeys continuing twice a week through the summer and once a week during the winter months.
Boa Vista, which translates to ‘Beautiful View’, boasts the year-round 30C temperatures enjoyed by visitors to the Caribbean Islands alongside the archipelago’s turquoise waters and white-sand beaches. Despite being frequently dubbed the “African Caribbean”, Cape Verde’s most easterly island remains a budget holiday destination thanks to its relative obscurity, with a seven-night all-inclusive stay priced at £783 per person.
TUI has also increased flights from London Gatwick to Boa Vista, with the new East Midlands service operating on Wednesdays and Saturdays throughout the summer before scaling back to just Wednesdays during the off-season.
The tourism firm seems set on fixing a spotlight on the sun-soaked spot, with the new flights part of a 12,500-capacity boost to Boa Vista to capitalise on a growing demand for novel beach getaways.
Cape Verde, described as “a group of under-the-radar islands off the west coast of Africa” by TUI, could offer an attractive alternative to the sunny climes buckling under the strain of overtourism this summer – with the top-rated Santa Monica Beach an “untouched” gem that is likely to be “pretty much deserted”.
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“The island is wrapped up in 55 kilometres’ worth of coastline,” the holiday company added, “where rocky coves merge into sand-white bays.
“[Santa Monica Beach] has easy access to the nearby capital, Sal Rei, a town of petite proportions, where rainbow-bright surf shops and cafes set the scene.”
Chris Logan, TUI UK and Ireland’s Commerical Director said: “Cape Verde has been a popular all-round holiday destination for some time now and we are seeing increased demand for Boa Vista.
“This new route from East Midlands, along with our expanded Cape Verde programme, allows us to meet this growing demand.
“The island is home to unspoilt beaches and boasts year-round sunshine, which is a huge draw for holidaymakers seeking a new destination for a relaxing holiday.”
The heightened attention on the island country could mean those deserted beaches don’t stay that way for long, however, with easyJet also launching its first-ever flights to Cape Verde this year.