Record number of trips abroad in past year

The number of trips abroad by British travellers increased again in the year to August 2007 to reach another record high, the Office for National Statistics has revealed.

Latest figures show that British people made some 69.6 million trips abroad in the 12 months up to August, a 1.5 per cent increase on the 68.6 million made in the preceding year.

During this time visits to North America increased by one per cent to reach 4.8 million.

However travel within Europe continued to be the most popular option, with some 54.8 million holidays taken within the continent, which represented a one per cent year-on-year increase.

The most pronounced rise in foreign visits came in the market for trips outside Europe and the US, with a seven per cent increase leading to a total of ten million holidays.

Justin Fleming, president of the Association of British Travel Agents, commented: 'Our love affair with foreign travel is in fine shape.

'Europe is still our number one destination but we are increasingly looking to visit other parts of the world.'