The tourism industry in the UK will see a boost to £12billion this year especially since two in three families plan to have a staycation this summer, a 65% rise this year, according to a recent research commissioned by Travelodge and presented by DailyMail. The study consisted of an online poll of 3,000 people and was conducted by OnePoll and revealed that top places for a staycation are Cornwall, London, Edinburgh and the Lake District.
The most likely Britons to choose a vacation in the UK this summer are those from Wolverhampton, Liverpool, Cardiff, Chelmsford and Manchester.
“The staycation trend accelerating to record levels and boosting our economy by £12 billion this year, is a very welcome sign, and hopefully this is the start of our 2012 Olympics legacy gain,” explained Grant Hearn, Chief executive of Travelodge.
“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.”
According to this study, almost half of the staycationers (45%) will take only one week break this year, while 15% will take a two weeks vacation. A third of the staycationers will have three short domestic breaks, rather than a longer one.
Travelodge’s chief executive considers however that this important trend is not capitalized as it should, thus “costing jobs, growth and investment.”
“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.”
It is indeed really interesting to see so many Britons choosing a staycation especially since the UK is not the cheapest destination available – with, in fact, more than one option nearby.