For many spending time at the beach is the perfect holiday.

For many people who've been working hard it's time for a well earned break.

The World Today will be looking at holidays and where people choose to go.

Who can and can't afford the time or money for holidays?

And if concerns about climate change and burning fossil fuels are making people change their travel habits?

First, let's find out what kind of holidays people are going on. Here are holidaymakers from Beijing, New York and Nairobi giving their view of the perfect holiday.

Beijing

New York

Nairobi

Well not everyone has the same idea for the perfect holiday. People take holidays for a wide variety of reasons.

	Cruise ships are criticised for being heavy polluters

Bill Ridgers, is an expert on the economics of travel and tourism at the Economist Intelligence Unit in London and John Urry studies the sociology of tourism at Lancaster University.
So, how important is tourism around the world?

Bill and John

Recent debates about the environmental impact of mass air travel have also raised questions about mass sea travel?

14 million people took a cruise last year and some commentators accuse cruise ships of being heavy polluters.

Andy Harmer from the Passenger Shipping Association, which represents cruise and ferry companies operating out of the UK, and Justin Francis, from responsibletravel.com, a travel agency offering eco-friendly holidays offer their expert opinion.

Andy and Justin

As people are becoming more aware of climate change and their own carbon footprint how is the tourism industry is changing?

In Britain, increasing number of people are opting to forego the long or even short-haul flight to find some holiday sunshine. Instead, they're reducing their carbon footprint by holidaying closer to home.

	Tourism has been blamed for the destruction of natural habitats

Irene Caselli has been experiencing the pleasures of eco-friendly camping in southern England.

Irene Caselli

Oliver Woods has gone a bit further than the UK or going on a sustainable tourism holiday. Instead he is a volunteer with Coral Cay Conservation Project. His holiday has taken him to Tobago.

Oliver Woods

First broadcast 23rd July.

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