Family holidays 'increasingly important'

A growing number of people in the UK are unwilling to forgo their holidays because they see it as an important time to spend with the family.

This is according to Alyson Cook, editor of Luxury Travel magazine, who said that even the credit crunch is not making any difference to those who are determined to go on luxury holidays.

"I think particularly with the vagaries of the weather the holiday is becoming more sacrosanct in their budget.

"Increasingly people are cash-rich but time-poor and the time that they spend with their family on holiday is increasingly important to them.

"[Cancelling a holiday is] not the thing they account for easily - there are too many members of the family to disappoint."

Recent research from the Centurion Luxury Living Index found that 66 per cent of holidaymakers are seeking private, secluded destinations away from the crowds, while 72 per cent wanted a bespoke experience catering exclusively for them.

Meanwhile, according to the International Luxury Travel Market, the industry as a whole is booming, with more exotic destinations including Thailand and Barbados becoming more common.

It now comprises an estimated 25 million annual arrivals, accounting for 25 per cent of international tourism spend.