Cheap Flights to New York survey

A survey by the organisation found that more people took cheap flights to France last year than to any other destination. Figures show that in 2010 there were some 76.8 million international arrivals, which is about the same figure as visited in 2009.

Second on the list was the USA. Last year saw a respectable 8.7 per cent increase in the number of international travellers taking cheap flights to Florida, New York, Las Vegas and a host of American destinations. The increase in the number of carriers offering cheap flights to the USA from the UK, Europe and Asia was one factor in this success story.

A surprise entry in third place was China, which pushed Spain holidays into the fourth position. A rise in the number of cheap flights to China, and increased interest in the country led to 55.7 million visitors from around the world last year, the UNWTO said.

Making up the final position in the top five was Italy holidays, with the UK, Germany, Malaysia and Mexico holidays completing the top ten.

Other parts of the survey restated the supremacy of air travel, with 51 per cent of all international journeys in 2010 being conducted via cheap flights, and the reasons for international travel remained overwhelmingly for holiday purposes. Some 51 per cent of journeys took place for leisure and recreational reasons, while another 27 per cent were either visiting friends and family, or travelling for religious reasons.