More Britons than ever are looking to holiday at home during the upcoming half-term break with bookings soaring for UK destinations.
Figures from holiday home rental agency Sykes Holiday Cottages revealed bookings for February half-term are up 27% versus 2020, with the number of people booking staycations surpassing pre-pandemic levels.
Meanwhile, bookings so far this year are up 22% compared to the same point in 2020, while there has been a 158% increase in bookings compared to the same period last year.
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In particular, Britons are booking staycations in Whitby, Ambleside and Bowness-on-Windermere, with these three locations witnessing the greatest volume of bookings for 2022.
Meanwhile, in a survey of 1,000 UK guests, Sykes found that 55% of British holidaymakers say they will still opt for UK staycations even when all international travel restrictions have lifted.
On average Brits are planning to take two staycations in the next 12 months, with almost half (46%) saying limiting their environmental impact is a key consideration when choosing a UK break over foreign travel.
Other factors for opting to holiday closer to home include the ease and convenience (52%) and getting to enjoy the outdoors (72%).
Graham Donoghue, chief executive at Sykes Holiday Cottages, said: “Bookings for our holiday lets this year are through the roof, showing that the staycation boom is here to stay.
“While bookings for February half-term have been record-breaking, we expect Easter and summer to be no different, and bookings are already coming in for autumn and winter thick and fast.
“Brits are looking to make the most of what our beautiful country has to offer and the self-catered option still appears to be a popular choice as contact with others can be limited.
“Clearly environmental considerations are also playing a role in the decision to staycation too. This is something we were starting to observe before the pandemic but it has really taken off over the last two years.”
By Brett Gibbons
Source: Wales Online
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