British Airways claims South Africa’s Cape Town and Johannesburg are set to be the top long haul destinations for 2009.
The airline revealed the news in its predicted top ten longhaul destinations for 2009 claiming the impact of the British Lions Tour as well as the strength of the pound against the rand will make South Africa the most popular destination.
British Airways’ head of UK & Ireland sales, Richard Tams, said: “It’s not all doom and gloom for travel in the current economic climate as destinations such as Dubai and the Caribbean Islands of St Kitts and St Lucia continue to experience growth and investment, so we anticipate greater numbers of customers wanting to travel there.
“South Africa will be popular thanks to the relative strength of the pound against the rand and the upcoming British Lions tour.”
“Destinations such as New York will remain firm favourites with both business and leisure travellers despite the economic downturn as savvy flyers know there are still bargains to be had and the Far East and Australasia continue to draw people looking for real adventure experiences.”
They top 10 are:
- Cape Town
- Johannesburg (for the British Lions tour)
- Dubai
- San Francisco
- New York
- Hong Kong
- St Kitts
- St Lucia
- Sydney
- Shanghai