More people than ever before went on holiday abroad last year, new figures have revealed.

The latest World Tourism Barometer from the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNTWO) shows that almost 900 million arrivals were recorded in 2007 - up six per cent compared with 2006.

Emerging and developing markets were found to be among the primary drivers of this growth, with destinations in the Middle East - such as Saudi Arabia and Egypt - recording significantly higher growth.

Malaysia and Cambodia saw particularly high growth rates in the Asia Pacific region, while Africa's tourist market expansion was propelled by the increasing popularity of Morocco, the UNTWO said.

Meanwhile, Europe proved to be the most attractive region for tourists, with Turkey, Greece and Portugal seeing double-digit growth.

"While mature markets remain the leading destinations in the world, the faster growth rate of new markets confirms UNWTO's main message of tourism's potential for the developing world," commented Francesco Frangialli, secretary-general of the UNTWO.

According to the organisation, international tourist arrivals could reach the 1.6 billion mark by 2020.

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