An ageing baby boomer generation and emerging middle classes in India and China are poised to create new opportunities for the UK’s tourism industry, according to Deloitte, the professional services organisation.

Alex Kyriakidis, the firm’s global managing director of tourism, hospitality and leisure, said that affluent baby boomers have "strong purchasing power" and "are used to travel".

Speaking at the Association of British Travel Agents’ Travel Matters Conference, Kyriakidis also predicted international tourism from India and China will accelerate in future years.

"The middle classes in the emerging markets are expanding rapidly and most of the new entrants will come from China and India," he said.