Spending by Brits on long haul holidays has increased markedly in recent years, according to new figures.

A report by Mintel has found that spending on long haul holidays grew by 41 per cent to almost £8 billion between 2002 and 2006, making it the fastest growing travel market.

Overall spending on overseas vacations was up 28 per cent to £23.8 billion during the period.

Almost a quarter of Brits are planning a major foreign holiday over the course of the next 12 months.

“The clear message is that it takes a lot to dampen down consumer confidence, as last year Brits continued to spend, spend, spend,” commented Neil Mason, a senior retail analyst at Mintel.

“Rising disposable income has lead to higher expectations about the quality of life, and as a result we are increasingly trading up and spending more on better quality, premium products and services.”

A poll by TripAdvisor found that Mexico, the Dominican Republic and Bali in Indonesia would be among the most popular long haul destinations this summer.

Make sure you have adequate travel insurance before you go away.

Contributed by J.Coggans