Dubai will always be a luxury holiday destination, it has been said, but the city can cater to those on a budget as well.

The emirate's government is continuing to invest in the destination, in the according to Ian Scott, director at the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) in the UK and Ireland.

He pointed to Dubai Metro, which will be fully operating by March 2010, a new spa opening in January and a number of hotels that are set to open their doors soon.

DTCM figures show that 854,601 travellers from the UK and Ireland made their way over to Dubai in 2008, a rise of 14 per cent over the previous year.

Jet2.com is to up its flights going from Manchester to Tel Aviv, which will no doubt please timeshare owners heading over to Israel.

The change will be made in March next year and flights will be leaving twice a week on Mondays and Thursdays.

Holiday makers concerned about the situation of the environment will be pleased by the announcement of the Tourism 2023 initiative.

Founding partners ABTA - The Travel Association, British Airways, Carnival UK, The Co-operative Travel, The Travel Foundation, Thomas Cook and TUI Travel all committed to the project which will seek to create a tourism industry that is beneficial for tourism destinations and protects the environment.

Timeshare owners looking to beat the narrowing euro-pound exchange rate have been advised to do their own research online before heading off.

Peter Harrison, travel money expert at moneysupermarket.com, pointed out that with many retailers now offering zero per cent commission, there is more focus on the exchange rates offered.