A growing number of UK holidaymakers are going abroad for Christmas, and booking up to a year in advance, the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) said on Tuesday.
Visits abroad from UK residents increased by two per cent year-on-year ending June 2007 to almost 70 million, according to data from the Office of National Statistics.
And visits to parts of the world outside of Europe and Africa increased by the greatest proportion, nine per cent.
'People do tend to plan ahead because it's so busy and it's such a short period of time. Unlike August, you are really fighting for peak times. Prices are more expensive and often people are booking a year in advance,' said a spokesperson for ABTA.
Currently, every year was proving a record in visitors abroad during the Christmas period, the spokesperson added.
Most travellers opt for some winter sun by going to Spain or the Canary islands during this period, with the French and Italian Alps also popular for skiing.
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