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ABTA outlines 2008 holiday destination trends for 2008

Early bookings to Portugal and Turkey doing particularly well for 2008,

according to ABTA as it released an end of year set of holiday trends.

Almost 70 million visits abroad were taken by UK resident in 2007 and while trips to Europe have broadly stayed the same, travel to the US rose by 3% while the biggest growth is in long haul travel, up by about 10%.

Destination Hot Spots for 2008 include China with the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing; Singapore, which will host the first Formula 1 night race on September 28; and Australia, due to blockbuster films and sporting events such as the Rugby League World Cup in October.

Other places highlighted include Colombia due to improved political stability combined with the release of Mike Newell's film of Gabriel Garcia Maquez's novel Love in the Time of Cholera, which has been filmed in Cartagena, widely thought of as the most beautiful city in South America.

But ABTA cautioned: "Although Colombia's has many stunning areas, not all of its problems have been resolved and it is important for anyone planning a trip to keen a close watch on the Foreign Office's travel advice."

The 60th anniversary of the state of Israel will bring the spotlight on the nation in 2008 helped by new flights to Tel Aviv.

The United Arab Emirates capital Abu Dhabi is described as the new Dubai with plans to add 25,000 hotel rooms in the next few years and a Guggenheim museum.

In Dubai, 2008 will see the QE2 make its final voyage from the UK and become a floating hotel in the Emirate.

Oman, Arabia's fastest growing, and greenest destination has added more luxury resorts and has two of the world's best hotels in the capital Muscat – the Chedi and the newly refurbished palatial Al Bustan.

Euro 2008 in Austria and Switzerland will still draw football fans to soak up the atmosphere despite the home nations failing to qualify for the tournament.

Syria's second city Aleppo is set to benefit from new BMI flights from the UK following its acquisition of the BMED franchise.

Quebec City's 400th anniversary year will help draw more travellers to Canada for experience-driven holidays.

DISABLED TRAVEL NEWS

A.B.T.A., spokesman Sean Tipton says:

'Many travel companies offer no financial protection at all to customers but our members must now

remind customers if this is the case.' After losing 1,000., mainly High Street, members since 1999,

ABTA retains around 6,500 members on its books. It defends its latest move as a response to the

growing trend for online bookings and claims no other retail sector offers protection on sales with such

a long gap between purchase and delivery. ABTA claims the new rules needn't leave consumers more

exposed to risk - providing they are careful when they book.

Sean Tipton at ABTA says:

'We emphasise travellers must obtain a confirmation invoice from suppliers of holidays or

any travel arrangement if they wish to be fully protected'.

'If they don't get this documentation within a week of booking at most, they should contact ABTA at once.'

Tipton denies that any of the 20 million people who book packages each year or travel agencies have

anything to fear from the change -

'The main purpose of the change is to ensure the public gets what it has paid for...".

ABTA, which paid out £4 million in 2005 to holidaymaker's after 20 companies failed, strongly denies

it faces a cash crisis. 'We have well over £20 million in terms of money we might need to settle claims,'

However, tour industry figures claim the change is highly significant - even though few members of

the public are likely to notice it.

Noel Josephides says - whose Sunvil Holidays belongs to the rival -

Association of Independent Tour Operators (AITO): 'It is a nightmare for everybody, but probably -

inevitable in the face of the rising number of no frills airline bookings which usually offer no guarantees...'

'ABTA believes its move will leave its members better able to compete, (With the Internet) but

it really means the public has less security. The ABTA symbol is being eroded, and in many cases,

you won't be able to guarantee people's money or that anybody is taking total responsibility.'

Notes: The increasing move from High Street 'Corner shops' to the Internet has changed the needs

of 'Package' travellers. Some Independent Holiday, Hotel, Villa, Flight & Wedding suppliers now offer different

sections of the 'Package' Cruise or Itinerary, with reputable ABTA AITO & ATOL companies -

which gives greater protection to the whole, one centre booking.
i.e. even if one link should fail then this can be rearranged to ensure a worry-free coordinated arrangement,

from the time of booking, to returning home.

All ABTA AITO ASTA ATOL & CLAI agencies we offer inform you of their Number immediately and

usually, confirmation invoices arrive within 24 hrs ( With all appropriate legalities & assurances )

Your 'Unique' TLC Personal Coordinator will remain available- at all times...
Travel Link Coordinators Ltd