Related Stories

Take a 'thrifty' half-term holiday (21 Oct 2008)

Travel 'will continue' despite economic crisis (21 Oct 2008)

Backpacking tips: How to make friends (22 Oct 2008)

France prepares for 'busy' ski season (22 Oct 2008)

Noel gets a 'good holiday deal' (22 Oct 2008)

New year sees increase in internet travel traffic

(11 Jan 2006)

Going on holiday? – Get a great deal on travel insurance

With Christmas now a dim and distant memory, people's thoughts are once again turning to foreign holidays new research has found.

Moreover, an increasing number of people are turning to the internet for their travel information, says UK web traffic monitor Hitwise.

Visits to travel websites were 25 per cent higher this year during the week ending December 31st than the same period last year.

And in the week ending January 7th 2006, travel websites saw a 15 per cent boost in visitor numbers compared with the equivalent week in 2005.

In terms of searches, skiing was one of the subjects that seemed to be generating most excitement (a 28 per cent year-on-year rise), although there was also interest in getting away from the darkness with a dose of winter sunshine.

Searches for "Australia" and "New Zealand" were up by a sizable 42 per cent and 50 per cent respectively.

New Zealand is one of the countries enjoying the most significant increase in tourist numbers at the present time, capitalising on its reputation for the stunning landscapes captured on camera during the filming of the Lord of the Rings trilogy.

Heather Hopkins, Hitwise UK director of research, said: "Early indications are that travel websites are set to enjoy a strong year in 2006.

"January is typically a busy time for travel websites as consumers turn their attention from the sales to winter escape."

© Adfero Ltd