Certainly we have all heard that 2020 has been the “year of staycations”, but recent research shows this trend is set to continue into 2021.
A study recently conducted by Park Holidays UK, shows 11% of Brits plan to travel exclusively within the UK and a further 31% say they plan to do more domestic travelling in the next year.
The growing popularity of staycations reflects not only fears and confusion caused by the pandemic and restrictions but also people’s desire to protect the environment. Another study highlighted that more people are beginning to recognise the importance of nature and thus plan to rethink their use of air travel.
Another factor that supports the staycation trend is the surge in caravan and holidays homes sales. Many people flocked to the British seaside when restrictions were lifted on domestic travel over the summer months and the advantages of having a sunny break in home soil has left a positive impact.
Tony Clish, UK Director for Park Holidays, commented:
“At Park Holidays, we have seen soaring numbers of bookings over the course of this year, and a huge peak in interest into the next year too. It is reassuring to know that there are so many out there looking to support UK tourism after a challenging season.”
Despite the major financial impact the pandemic has had, they noted that the demand for holiday homes and caravans is on an upwards trend! So much so that they’re having to put waiting lists in place, order more caravans and create more pitches to ensure delivery. This unprecedented demand has brought hope especially for seaside towns that rely on tourism influx to boost its economies.
Essex councillor stated “caravans, whether mobile or static, are an important part of the holiday accommodation mix in our district and contribute strongly to our local economy.” It has been reported staycations could boost the economy by £8 billion. With more Brits choosing to stay at home they can inject money back into the local economy, rather than spend money abroad. This is good news for local businesses, and there is hope that holiday-makers will continue to make up for lost time in the upcoming year.
Even though restrictions continue to fluctuate, the hope is that the growth in interest for domestic travel continues and that the public has a chance to explore not only the coastal towns but also new locations on home soil.
