Long-haul destinations are firmly on the horizon for British travellers heading overseas this summer, according to new statistics.

And not only are holidaymakers heading for more far flung shores, they are also doing so more often, the research from travel firm TripAdvisor reveals.

One in four tourists expect to do more travelling in 2007 than they managed in 2006, TravelMole reports.

“It looks like we will all be taking more time off and spending more money on our holidays this summer,” TripAdvisor European communications manager Ian Rumgay told the website.

More than a third of British holidaymakers expect to spend between £500 and £1,400 on their summer breaks this year, while nearly a quarter plan to splash out upwards of £2,500.

Las Terrenas in the Dominican Republic is the most popular emerging travel hotspot, according to TripAdvisor, ahead of Breaux Bridge in Louisiana and Seminyak in Bali. Other up-and-coming locations include destinations in Costa Rica, Croatia, Thailand and Mexico.

With more expensive holidays to more remote locations increasingly prevalent, the need for comprehensive travel insurance has never been more pressing.

Contributed by J.Bevan