Record rise in trips abroad

A record 1.5 million Britons will go abroad this Christmas.

Demand for beach holidays, ski-ing trips and visits to relatives has risen by 50 per cent on the same period in 2001, fuelled by offers from budget airlines. The rise follows a slump last year after 11 September.

The Association of British Travel Agents said 70 per cent of the holidays were being taken in Europe, with the Canary Islands and Spain the most popular destinations, followed by France. Demand for transatlantic flights has increased on last Christmas, with packages to Florida and Mexico among the favourites. South Africa, where the weakness of the rand makes prices cheap, is also very popular.

Bookings to Africa are reportedly unaffected by the terrorist attack in Kenya last month, but expensive safari trips are said to be down because of shrinking City bonuses and falling share prices.