Tourism industry 'set to grow'

Greater numbers of travellers are set to jet off to other countries in the near future, according to a new report.

The latest Tourism Satellite Accounting publication from the World Travel & Tourism Council and Accenture has suggested that global travel is expected to result in some $8 trillion (£4 trillion) of sales by 2018.

Destinations in Africa, Asia Pacific and the Middle East will see the greatest growth in tourist activity, the research suggested.

"In particular, China, India and other emerging markets are still growing rapidly, which will increase both business and leisure travel, while many countries in the Middle East are undertaking massive tourism-related investment programmes," commented John Walker, chairman of Oxford Economics.

However, the USA will continue to attract the majority of travellers over the next decade, according to the report.

Figures from the Office for National Statistics show that 17.5 million Britons went overseas on holiday between October and December 2007.

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