More tourists heading Down Under

An increasing number of British tourists are jetting off to Australia to get a taste of some sun, sea and surf.

Figures show that despite the lengthy flight time, thousands of travellers are heading Down Under, with the number of international tourists arriving during the first six months of 2007 hitting the 2.7 million mark.

This is a 4.2 per cent rise on the same period last year, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

Tourism minister Fran Bailey said: "Tourists are finding their way Down Under in record numbers, keen to discover our fabulous beaches, our great outback and our relaxed way of life."

Separate research suggests that Australia is the most popular destination for Britons under the age of 45 who want to set up home abroad.

The study by the Bank of Scotland also found that those over 45 were most likely to head to New Zealand or France from the UK.