Record year expected for UK staycations as Brits avoid airport chaos

Three-quarters of Brits will holiday in the UK this year spending an average of £822, according to Sykes Holiday Cottages’ annual Staycation report
There has been a boom in staycations (Jonathan Brady/PA)
PA Wire

Brits are choosing to holiday in the UK in their droves this summer as they look to avoid chaotic immigration queues and cancelled flights, a new report says.

A record year for staycations is expected despite the end of flight restrictions in a boom that could provide an estimated £15.5billion boost to the British economy.

According to Sykes Holiday Cottages’ annual Staycation Index, 77 per cent of Brits will holiday in the UK this year spending an average of £822.

North Wales has remained at the top spot for destinations for the second year in a row, with Cornwall and the Lake District in second and third.

Graham Donoghue, CEO of Sykes Holiday Cottages, said: “Uncertainty around Covid restrictions has seemingly been replaced with another worry – overseas travel disruption – which has encouraged some to reconsider their plans and our last-minute bookings for this summer have increased as a result.”

It comes after a UK rental property provider Independent Cottages reported an 80 per cent spike in last minute bookings with Brits abandoning their flight plans - as British airlines and airports were struggle to cope with demand.

Sean Thompson, head of marketing at Independent Cottages, said: “This may suggest that people were waiting to see how things unfolded for half-term and subsequently, when they saw chaos, quickly researched and booked UK destinations.

“We may be seeing a continuation of this trend given that we are still experiencing delays and cancellations at UK airports, with more people looking to opt for the safer bet by booking a staycation in the UK to avoid any unnecessary holiday stress.”

He added that enquiries for the school summer holiday have gone up 23 per cent week on week.

Which? Travel editor Guy Hobbs said of the situation: “Thousands of people will now be worrying about whether their flight or holiday plans are about to fall apart.”

Shepherd’s Retreat in the Cotswolds
Independent Cottages

Heathrow chief John Holland-Kaye said: “(When) passenger numbers have regularly exceeded 100,000 a day, we have started to see periods when service drops to a level that is not acceptable.”

Hotel chain Travelodge also told the Standard that a trend of holidaymakers staying within the UK has been noticed.

Spokeswoman Shakila Ahmed said: “We have become a staycation nation and as one of the UK’s largest hotel chains, with more than 580 hotels across the length and breadth of the UK, we are gearing up for a busy summer season.

“We are seeing a growing trend in Britons taking multi-location holidays and taking more short breaks. Taking regular shorter breaks helps to maximise your holiday time, recharge your batteries, discover what makes Great Britain so great and also provides interesting content to share on our social news feeds.”

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