Parents planning a holiday for the upcoming half term break will pay extra for the journeys, new research from Abbey shows.

Luxury hotels and other breaks to Spain and Portugal are to carry a 39 per cent premium for the trip - a figure which increases to 78 per cent for US holiday camps.

Abbey found that the average family journey to Spain over the half term will cost £348 - while week-long trips to Cyprus and the Algarve are to cost £439 and £553 respectively.

All three figures are inflated for the half term period, the financial services firm said.

Callum Gibson at Abbey commented: “For many families money is tighter than ever this year, so every penny counts.

“There are a number of ways to keep costs down on foreign holidays such as booking in advance to get the best deal, shopping around for the best price on foreign currency, taking a credit card on holidays that saves you money on foreign exchange fees and putting your holiday on a zero per cent credit card where appropriate.”

Israel is to mark its 60th anniversary with a series of tourist-friendly festivals.

The middle eastern nation, which boasts an excellent climate along with a near-unparalleled cultural richness, marked its birthday earlier this week.

However, celebrations are to continue throughout the year, climaxing in the Violins of Hope concert in Jerusalem this September.

At the event, the orchestras of Istanbul in Turkey and Raanana in Israel will unite in the Old City as a mark of cultural integration.

Elsewhere, the tourist town of Eilat is hosting the Red Sea Jazz festival in August, with acts from around the world scheduled to perform.

Jazz fans might also like to consider the Festival at Caesarea Harbour next month - with three “world-renowned” bands from New Orleans set to perform in the pretty seaside town.

Jerusalem will also host an international film festival in July - and the city hosts a well-respected wine event in the same month.

Cheap sea crossings to Europe and Scandinavia have been announced by ferry firm DFDS Seaways.

The boat firm is providing special offers on sea crossings to the Danish port of Esjerg, Amsterdam, Bergen and Stavanger in Norway.

For example, Newcastle to Amsterdam now costs £132 for two people and a car, while Newcastle to Norway costs only £176 - although customers are advised that these tickets are one-way only.

Ferries offer considerable advantages to holiday makers over air travel, DFDS Seaways also said.

“No hassle with airport queues, delays, baggage restrictions and stress. Just pack up the car and head off on your holiday with everything you need.”

Customers were advised by the firm that ferry journeys can also be used as a “gateway” to explore further afield - for example, the sea passage to Amsterdam can form a starting point for trips to France and even the Mediterranean.

A rise in British tourists visiting Spain is expected despite the pound flagging againstthe euro, a Spanish tourism chief has claimed.

Ignacia Vasallo of the Turespana Spanish Tourist Board said he believes the country will remain a popular tourist destination during 2008, reports the Majorca Daily Bulletin.

Predicting a two per cent rise in visitors this summer, he said Spain was still one of the cheapest eurozone destinations and claimed certain slight price increases were not going to turn people away.

He stated: “While the credit crunch may persuade British consumers to put off selling the house or buying a new car, it will not deter them from going on holiday this year.”

With 10.7 million tourists having visited Spain already during the first quarter of 2008, it appears the country may indeed be in for a bumper year.

Visitors to Spain can choose between laid back breaks at one of the many beach resorts along the country’s Mediterranean coastline, or cultural trips to historic cities such as Barcelona and the capital city Madrid.

As many as 50,000 English football fans are expected to descend upon Moscow today in preparation for the Champions League Final.

Ticket-holders for the showpiece fixture have been waived visa requirements in a one-off gesture by the Russian government, providing many with a rare opportunity to enjoy the sights of the capital city.

Moscow authorities have laid-on 700 buses to transfer fans between the city airport and the stadium and many have chosen to book hotel accommodation in the city for the duration of their stay.

Specially erected pavilions in the famous Red Square are expected to be filled with supporters, although the drinking of alcohol openly on the streets will be prohibited.

Russian sports minister Vitaly Mutko urged the English fans to respect Russian customs and avoid a repeat of the violence which marred last week’s UEFA cup final between Glasgow Rangers and Zenit St Petersburg.

He added: “We will make sure that our guests will be taken care of, that they feel safe and feel our hospitality and have a great time.”

Russian visas, permitting a visitor to remain in the country for a specified period of time, can be obtained upon application to the Russian National Tourism Office.

Zoos are the most-searched-for tourist attraction by UK families using the internet, a leading search engine has announced.

Both of the top two Bank Holiday destinations looked for on Ask.com are zoos, with Chester topping the charts ahead of London in second place.

Other attractions regularly searched for include the Natural History Museum in the capital (3rd), Alton Towers in Staffordshire (4th) and Warwick Castle (5th).

Ask.com managing director Cesar Mascaraque said there had been a surge in web searches for family days out and specific queries related to opening times, ticket prices and travel directions.

He said: “It’s a sign of our times - we used to have to phone attractions up and listen to a recorded message take forever to tell you when they were open and how much a ticket was.”

Tourist hot-spot Chester Zoo was boosted in April by the second birth of a baby giraffe inside two months.

A rare Madagascan radiated tortoise has also recently been born at the zoo, the first known hatching of the species in the UK.

Rising numbers of tourists heading to Northern Ireland are fuelling growth in the hospitality industry, according to a leading bank.

Hotels are expanding and new facilities being constructed in the country according to Ulster Bank, which is providing a great deal of the investment in the sector.

Experts at the bank say the multi-million pound investment is set to continue in the future as the tourist industry continues to develop.

Mark Mulholland, a senior manager at the bank, said recent figures show Belfast hotels to be “enjoying very strong occupancy rates”.

He added the local tourism industry continues to capitalise on Northern Ireland’s improving image as a visitor destination.

The Northern Ireland Tourist Board has promoted the country to outside tourists since hostilities in the country ceased in 1998.

Attractions in the country include Norman castles, walled cities, beaches and the famous Giant’s Causeway.

Thailand will hold its annual tourism festival and travel mart between June 5th and June 8th 2008, with tourists and traders from around the world expected to attend.

Bangkok’s Impact Muang Thong Thani exhibition centre will host the event, which is expected to bring together almost 500 buyers from more than 60 countries, plus many independent travellers looking to pick up tips on how to make the most of their time in the country.

This year’s festival will for the first time include exhibitors promoting the Indonesia and Malaysian markets, adding to the potential value for traders and consumers.

Festival director Phornsiri Manoharn said the event would help visitors find the “perfect combination of products and services for their next travel plan”, whether for leisure, domestic meetings or adventure travel.

“Travelling around the country is a service to the Thai economy because it helps create jobs and distributes income nationwide,” she added.

More than 150,000 visitors are expected at the four-day event, while more than 80 media outlets from around the world have also been invited.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand is responsible for promoting the country to visitors from around the world who make a significant contribution to the nation’s economy.

Dubai is rapidly emerging as a leading tourist destination, it has been reported.

Long-inhabited by western workers, the United Arab Emirates’ largest city is now benefiting from money invested in the tourist industry, says the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA).

ABTA spokesperson Francis Duke explained that Dubai had as a result been transformed from a desert state into one of the world’s fastest growing cities.

He said: “Dubai is really four and five star upwards when it comes to its tourism offering.

“It is totally an example of where a lot of money and a lot of resources have been ploughed into the tourism products.”

Developments in Dubai reflect general rises in the number of visitors to destinations in emerging economies, the World Tourism Association has announced.

The association claims the market share of developing countries had grown to 40 per cent of worldwide international arrivals in 2007, up from 34 per cent in 2000.

ABTA represents more than 6,000 travel agencies and 850 tour operations throughout the British Isles.

A cruise operator is in negotiations with manufacturers over plans to build a luxurious new ship, it has been claimed.

Regent Seven Seas plans to unveil the 800 passenger liner by 2011, with a whole-deck spa a central showpiece, reports Travel Counsellors.

According to Regent president Mark Conroy the ship is targeting high-end consumers such as those who pay for premium cabins on standard cruises and seek first-class travel options.

Speaking at the UK Cruise Convention, he indicated that finalised plans may be in place by next month.

Regent marketing manager Celia Albert said the company’s pricing structure was no more expensive than other competitors in the market.

Meanwhile, Travel Counsellors reported a rise of 100 per cent on Regent bookings for 2009, with many customers constructing their own itineraries from the numerous travel routes available.

Company liners visit more than 300 ports on all six inhabited continents, with its liners built to cater for several hundred guests.