Despite the dismal weather and tight household budgets, 2013 is going to be a record year for the Staycation trend, as 65% of Britons opt to take their summer holiday at home this year. This is a significant increase on the past two years, when 41% and 35% of Britons respectively took a domestic break. With the average trip costing Britons GBP 399.28 this year, (GBP 34.19 reduction from last year), this investment will boost the UK tourism industry by GBP 12 billion (up GBP 3.3bn from last year). These findings have been revealed today in a new holiday index by Travelodge.
The budget hotel chain’s fifth annual holiday report surveyed 3,000 British adults to investigate their summer holiday intentions and revealed that 42% of these Staycationers are taking a week’s holiday in the UK this summer, 15% are indulging in a two week break on British shores and a third (33%) are splitting their holidays over three short domestic breaks so that they can visit a series of locations.
Other key findings revealed that the city break has overtaken the traditional seaside holiday as our favourite Staycation break. Listed below are the top five most popular types of Staycation breaks that Britons are taking this year.
1. City Break (31%)
2. Rural / Countryside break (27%)
3. Seaside (22%)
4. Visiting family (18%)
5. Visiting an historic site (15%)
The holiday report also revealed that for the first time in five years, Cornwall has lost its crown as the nation’s top Staycation destination and dropped to fourth position. Jumping up the poll to the number one and two positions are capital cities, London and Edinburgh. The Lake District fell from second position to third place this year.
Grant Hearn, Travelodge CEO said: “The Staycation trend accelerating to record levels and boosting our economy by GBP 12 billion this year, is a very welcome sign, and hopefully this is the start of our 2012 Olympics legacy gain.
“During 2012, our capital city was showcased in its true glory to all corners of the UK and the world, and it’s a great result that London has been crowned as the top Staycation destination for 2013.”
“However we cannot rest on our laurels, as one of Britain’s biggest business sectors, the opportunity to grow is still great. We are not yet near to unlocking the true potential of our industry. British tourism needs to be treated like a serious business sector and the Government needs to move our industry from the ineffective Department of Culture Media & Sports to the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills. Lack of immediate action is costing jobs, growth and investment.”