Thailand 'leading long-haul destination this winter'

The company revealed that Thailand was ranked first in its league of long-haul destinations outside America after orders for the baht increased by 48% in December compared to the previous month.

Australia and New Zealand were not far behind in terms of overall currency orders, with demand for the latter's dollar rising by 86% in the final month of 2009.

The United Arab Emirates dirham also attracted more interest in December, becoming Ice's seventh most popular currency following an increase in the strength of the pound.

Andrew Hamilton, head of marketing for the currency firm, said: 'It may have been a white Christmas for some parts of the UK but festivities on a far-flung beach and new year celebrations ahead of the rest of the world proved too hard to resist for many Brits.