Inoculations "very important"

Getting properly vaccinated before departing for a different country is "very important", an expert in the travel industry has said.

Sean Tipton is a spokesperson for Abta - The Travel Association and discussed the need for some people to be inoculated against various diseases depending on their destination.

This is because Brits may not have built up any natural immunity to diseases such as rabies or yellow fever.

Would-be expats planning their move might want to prioritise this if necessary, Mr Tipton suggested.

"It is something you need to look into as soon as you book," he explained.

In addition, it could be easier and more convenient to complete this pre-flight task while still in Britain, rather than have to arrange it and pay in foreign currency.

Mr Tipton's comments follow a recent survey by Kuoni, which found that the top long-haul destination in 2008 was the Maldives.

New Zealand - a popular destination for many emigrants - entered the top 20 for the first time.