Places which have traditionally been popular with backpackers and those who enjoy a more exotic holiday experience are becoming more mainstream, it has been claimed.
A spokesperson for the Association of Independent Tour Operators said destinations such as Peru - and South America as a whole - have always been popular with backpackers but that such places were becoming more popular in a widespread way.
The representative went on to say that people were now more aware of places like this as they were not seen as "the end of the Earth" anymore.
Pointing out that the world was becoming a smaller and more accessible place, the spokesperson also suggested that far flung destinations were now easier to get to and not perceived as "intrepid" as they were before.
Figures from the Office of National Statistics released this month show that the number of UK residents who travelled to North America increased to 4.8 million from last year, with the number of those jetting off to the rest of the world up by three per cent to 10 million.
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