More than 3m 'to head overseas this Christmas'

The Association of British Travel Agents (Abta) has revealed that more than three million people are expected to head overseas over the Christmas and New Year period.

Geneva, the gateway to the Alps, is set to see a boom in passengers as people head off on their snowboarding and skiing holidays.

However, getting some guaranteed sun will be the main priority for most people, according to Abta, with destinations such as Tenerife, Egypt, the Caribbean and Turkey all set to prove popular.

The association also reported that flights from Manchester Airport to Dubai and the Middle East have been attracting interest.

City break destinations such as Amsterdam, Dublin, New York and Paris will see plenty of visitors from the UK, particularly on December 27th as people travel abroad for New Year's Eve parties.

Abta president Justin Fleming said: "Holidays – especially at this time of year – are considered to be so much more than a luxury. They provide a valuable time to unwind and spend quality time with family."

With some 1.1 million departing passengers, Heathrow Airport is set to be the busiest hub between December 20th and January 1st, followed by Gatwick Airport (500,000) and Manchester Airport (290,000).

Posted by Kate, 19 December 2008 14:21

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• New York
• Amsterdam
• Dubai
• Dublin
• Paris
• Tenerife