Blood not thicker than water when it comes to holidays

BEACH holidays remain the world's most popular break according to a global tourism survey despite almost 70 per cent of travellers afraid to go in the water because of sharks.

The Expedia Flip Flop 2012 survey found when travellers were faced with the choice of just one holiday, 33 per cent would pick a beach break, 18 per cent a romantic getaway with their partner and 11 per cent a city trip.

Just 10 per cent would visit family or relatives.

“Beaches are definitely top of mind right now,” Expedia's vice president and general manager Joe Megibow said.

Half of those surveyed said they thought about sharks when deciding where to holiday, despite there being under 100 reported shark bite incidents worldwide each year. 68 per cent admitted to having been afraid to swim because of sharks.

The survey also found Germans were the most likely to admit to stripping off for a spot of nude sunbathing (15 per cent), followed by Indians and Spaniards (both 8 per cent). Aussies were prudes in comparison, with just 5 per cent daring to bare.

Meanwhile, in a bizarre twist Indians admitted to a love of dancing on the beach (39 per cent) followed by Mexicans (34 per cent), Brazilians (30 per cent), while just 8 per cent of Aussies would let loose on the sand.