Deloitte has revealed that 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.

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.

"Despite their disposable income lagging behind that of the West, international tourism from these two source markets will accelerate over the next few years."

Kyriakidis also said that next summer's Olympic and Paralympic Games offer "arguably the greatest opportunity to launch holiday GB to the world".