We often talk about UK holidays being much cheaper than foreign holidays and they are, but for many even a UK break is unaffordable. With the high season now over, holiday firms are cashing up so to speak and that comes with the confirmation that while the numbers taking British holidays is up, the number of people taking holidays overall is down, and even the ones that are getting away are taking fewer breaks than in previous years.
A survey by travel association ABTA has shown that the predictions are correct and the staycation has never been so popular. More than 50% of holidaymakers took a British break this summer, up from 46% on the last twelve months.
However, foreign holidays are down, and overall, 20% of people in the UK did not have a holiday this summer and cited financial strain as the reason why. That’s a huge jump on last year when the numbers were 17% and on 2010 when half of this year’s numbers, just 10% of people did not take a holiday at all.
What’s also increased is the amount of customers booking breaks online, and even from their smartphone or tablet and it seems ironic that at a time when booking a holiday has really never been easier, that more people than ever cannot even afford to go away. Another increase is extended families holidaying together, and holiday parks with vans that sleep at least 8 people really do accommodate this trend of taking gran and granddad on holiday, not least because for holiday makers it can mean a built in babysitter and some quality time.
As the last shady clouds of the recession lift we may see holiday bookings increase next summer, but the silver lining in this cloud is the fantastic boost the UK travel industry has had. While people may have only started taking British holidays because they are short of cash, many of them have realised just how much a British holiday can be, and that cheap doesn’t always mean making do!
By: Kath Cross
