British Airways predicts top ten long haul hotspots for 2009

British Airways has announced its predicted top ten long haul destinations for 2009. Richard Tams, British Airways' head of UK & Ireland sales, 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.”

The top ten destinations are:

- Cape Town
- Johannesburg (for the British Lions tour)
- Dubai
- San Francisco
- New York
- Hong Kong
- St Kitts
- St Lucia
- Sydney
- Shanghai

Richard continues: "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."