Surge in foreign travel predicted by experts
The popularity of air travel is set to increase over the next few years, according to new estimates.
Figures from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) suggested that the overall number of air passengers could increase to 2.75 billion by 2011.
This is about 620 million more than the current amount of people using aircraft for both business and leisure purposes.
Giovanni Bisignani, chief executive of IATA, commented: "The numbers clearly show that the world wants to fly - and it also needs to fly."
He added that air transport was "critical" to the fabric of the global economy, as it helped to generate wealth across the world.
The figures also highlighted a projected increase in demand for travelling to Europe, including emerging markets such as Romania.
Nations in the east of the continent were said to be likely to see most of the increased demand for air travel, potentially boosting interest in the region among overseas property investors.
The Sofia Echo recently reported that visitor numbers in Bulgaria during the first 9 months of 2007 were 7.4% higher than those recorded last year.
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