World 'is luxury travel's oyster'

Luxury holiday destinations are becoming more popular as people seek new places to visit, one industry expert has said.

Sharon Livingston, editor of Travel magazine, said that people who can afford to will still be taking two or three holidays, despite the current economic climate.

"These days they've spread [holidays] across the year. It's not like they just go on one," she commented.

Ms Livingston added that places which were once seen as only for the rich and famous are "opening up more".

"As Dubai is a place that has been very popular, the other Middle Eastern countries are following suit. Then of course Latin America has increased tourism into that area to create a good environment," she said.

Research from the International Luxury travel Market in 2007 found that the industry as a whole is booming, with the luxury market now accounting for 25 per cent of international tourism spend.

In addition, an email survey carried out by Travel magazine found that China, Asia, South America, the Maldives and the Caribbean were among the top predicted growth destinations for 2008.

Earlier this month, Tom Hall, editor of the popular Lonely Planet travel guides, said that British people are continuing to book holidays despite the fact that money may be tighter than usual, seeing them as non-negotiable.