Overseas property buyers may be able to benefit from growing tourism across the world, new research suggests.

According to a poll by The Network, most independent travel agents in the UK are optimistic about the sector's future performance...

 
More than a third of companies said they were anticipating the number of bookings to go up by up to ten per cent this year, while one in four said they expected an increase of at least this amount.

The positive forecasts could bode well for the investment potential of those countries highlighted as especially popular locations, including Italy, Spain and Dubai.

This is because many overseas property buyers who let out residences in these destinations depend on tourists to provide them with rental income.

Paula Lacey, business development director at The Network, told TravelMole: "The prospects for 2008 holiday bookings through the trade are hugely encouraging."

This comes after the UN World Tourism Organisation revealed that the world''s population made 898 million overseas trips last year.