10.3 million Brits (21% of the adult population) plan to make the most of the summer (until the end of August) by taking at least one holiday or short break in the UK, with 8.9 million people (18%) planning to take that trip in England, according to VisitEngland’s Summer Trip Tracker.
This is likely to generate some £2.3 billion in tourism spend for the UK economy, around £1.9bn of which will be spent in England. These figures compare with 12% (5.9million) of Brits who plan to holiday abroad over the same period.
Around 10.8 million Brits (22%) are currently undecided about taking a trip away during the summer, with concerns around their financial situation (39% of this group) and the weather (28%) being the main drivers of doubt. 22% are waiting to see if there are special offers or deals available.
James Berresford, VisitEngland’s Chief Executive, commented:
“I’m delighted to see that over 10 million people are planning to holiday at home this summer. The industry has a vast opportunity to inspire those still undecided and convince them that England is the place to be this summer. If we convert even half of those who are undecided about taking a summer break in England, we could potentially contribute an additional £600m to the UK economy. The trend for last minute bookings is strong; coupled with the recent return of sunshine to our shores, this could provide the industry with a welcome boost.”
Find those special offers
The hospitality industry should pay special attention to Mr Berresford’s follow up comment:
“Anyone looking for inspiration or special offers should check out great 2012 offers, for thousands of great deals on accommodation, attractions, travel, meals out and more. A summer in England will be a special occasion this year!”
If your accommodation, attraction, restaurant or facility isn’t listed, perhaps it’s time to check it out?
For more information click here
For the full report click here