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Staycation summer: Uncertainty around overseas travel sparks UK tourism boom

 - Getty
- Getty

It has been declared the summer of the staycation. First came the pictures of busy beaches in Bournemouth and then self-catering stays started soaring. And now, with the Government’s sudden reintroduction of quarantine measures for travellers returning from Spain, foreign holidays seem a risk too far for some and breaks in the UK even more appealing.

There is evidence that the new restrictions have already led to a boom in bookings. Following the announcement, outdoor accommodation site Pitchup.com recorded its best ever day of sales, with more than 6,100 individual bookings on Sunday July 26. This figure is nearly a fifth more than the previous Sunday and 48 per cent higher than its best day last year.

Dan Yates, founder of the camping booking platform, said: “For many who were just starting to consider booking a trip abroad this is probably the nail in the coffin, with the change in regulations fundamentally damaging consumer confidence to travel overseas.

“The tightened financial climate means British holidaymakers are unlikely to take the risk of not being able to work when they return, which has likely been the catalyst for this weekend’s surge in UK bookings.”

The news follows a month of record bookings for holiday lettings companies. Kip Hideaway’s has reported a 400 per cent increase in enquiries since the lifting of lockdown restrictions and had to upgrade its servers to cope with demand and stop its website crashing. Similarly, Classic Cottages has seen 165 per cent more bookings than usual, with another bump in sales in the past week, suggesting that people are increasingly turning to domestic breaks amidst the ongoing uncertainty surrounding overseas holidays.

Canopy & Stars
Canopy & Stars

The trend shows no signs of diminishing, with glamping company Canopy & Stars’ strong sales continuing into autumn, with forward bookings for September to December all 100 per cent higher than at the same point in 2019.

In popular seaside spots across the country, it’s close to business as usual. Up in Whitby, beaches are busy and famous fish and chip shop The Magpie Cafe reports that things are relatively normal, despite its reduced capacity and spaced-out tables. John Freeman, Chair of Whitby District Tourism Association, says that the town is “now very busy”, adding: “There has been a big surge in camper van visitors and holiday cottages are also reporting strong bookings. It’s quite a shock after the solitude we were experiencing”.

Visitors can’t keep away from Cornwall and the South West either, which repeatedly tops Visit Britain’s research on holiday intentions. Classic Cottages reports that 60 per cent of its bookings have been properties in the county, while holiday lettings company One Off Places reveals that together with neighbouring Devon, Cornwall has been its most popular destination “by a country mile”.

However, while there has certainly been a surge in bookings and sales, spurred on by the continued risk of foreign holidays, it is clear that a large number of people remain unsure about holidaying at all. According to Visit Britain's latest consumer research, only 19 per cent of those surveyed have a UK holiday planned. They also anticipate that there will be 27 per cent less domestic holidays compared to this time last year. So while tourism has certainly returned, a closer look reveals a more nuanced state of affairs.

Cornwall - getty
Cornwall - getty

In the Lake District, holidaymakers are back, but there hasn’t been the immediate boom that some may have expected. Jim Walker, Chairman of Cumbria Tourism, says: “We are seeing an increased number of visitors overall, but it is a mixed and complex picture compared to an average school summer holiday period. For instance, there is still some caution around overnight stays at serviced accommodation and some indoor attractions.”

The novel nature of the pandemic has also led to some unexpected situations in the tourism industry. While it might be tricky to secure a holiday cottage in the South West this summer, some of the country’s most popular attractions are far quieter than usual. The dearth of coach holidays and international visitors has meant that some English Heritage sites actually have increased availability. Visits to the stone circle at Stonehenge are usually booked up months in advance due to group trips but, at least for the moment, last-minute slots are available.

Back in Whitby, John Freeman says that the loss of Shearings coach holidays coming to the town has had a definite impact as it provided a “steady flow of visitors with some pension money to spend”. So confidence is returning to some areas of the UK tourism industry, but the outlook remains uncertain.