LONDON (Reuters) - Recession concerns have not reduced people's desire to travel, a survey has found, with the number of planned holidays this year up on 2008.

No fewer than 86 percent of 8,000 respondents to the CNN poll said they intended to go abroad in the next 12 months, up from 76 percent last year.

The increase possibly reflects a desire to travel as a way of alleviating stress associated with the downturn, CNN said.

Cost was an issue though. Forty percent were cutting frequency of trips and choosing less expensive destinations. The average spent per holiday was $3,786, with the United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany and Spain the favourite destinations.

When it came to choosing airlines, 53 percent put price as the most important consideration, followed to a lesser degree by brand reputation and quality of service.

Business travellers appear to be more affected by the recession, with 51 percent making efforts to reduce the price of trips by reducing the amount taken and opting for cheaper flights and hotels.