Tourists are bypassing riskier destinations and flocking to Spain’s hotspots but locals are frustrated by what they see as disruption to their lives and pressure on services, writes Sarah White

Shares in Thomas Cook plunged 19% yesterday as it said its summer bookings fell as security concerns meant more holidaymakers opted for breaks in Spain over Turkey, Tunisia, and Egypt, outstripping its efforts to adjust flights.

Injury. For professional sports people, it is both the bogeyman outside the window and the wolf at the door.

ONE of world’s rarest mammals, the Mediterranean monk seal, has returned to the Adriatic coast.

Mentally surveying some of the delights of spring which are almost over, I recall with gratitude the striking little alpine (rockery) plant which is sold under the name of Arenaria Montana.

DISPATCHES, via text messages to this relatively remote Mediterranean island which I am re-visiting, assure me that the young heron which we adopted a fortnight ago is alive, robust and growing in all directions.

COME summer time, there’s never a shortage of things to do around Ireland. Sometimes the best of festivals tended to go unnoticed but these days it’s easy to pick them on www.discoverireland.ie

TUI Travel today said UK and Ireland profits more than doubled after it axed loss-making routes and cut costs in last year’s First Choice merger.

Newcastle boss Kevin Keegan will prepare his troops for the new season with tough friendlies against Spanish and German opposition.

Police in Majorca are today searching for the mother of a seven-year-old girl who fell from a fifth-floor hotel balcony.

MIDLETON-based Discover Travel has launched its largest brochure for south-east Asia, updated to include Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Cambodia, Singapore and Hong Kong.

WITH this summer just over, the holiday companies are already plan to grab next summer’s disposable income.

Real Mallorca 0 Newcastle 3 (Aggregate: 1-7)

Telecom company O2 has announced a new deal with Alphyra which will allow Irish holidaymakers in Spain to top-up mobile phone credit in a wide range of outlets.

TRAFFIC at Cork Airport has reached record levels despite reports of a low tourism figures for the country.