A Travelodge poll of 5,000 British adults claims 41% plan to holiday in the UK this summer, an addition of 6% compared to last summer.
The budget chain said this was an increase of 6% on 2011 and means the UK tourist industry will earn £8.7bn – up by £1.5bn – in this year of Jubilee and Olympic events.The survey found that the most popular British holiday destination for staycations is Cornwall, followed by Edinburgh and the Lake District.Of those planning their holiday, almost half (49%) intend to book at the last minute because of tight finances, while nearly two-thirds (65%) are making significant sacrifices so that they can afford to have a holiday.The average holiday price, according to the survey, was £433.47 for a week, up by £10.78 on the year before.Grant Hearn, Travelodge chief executive, said: ‘It’s fantastic news that the staycation is going to be bigger than ever this year despite British household budgets being attacked by a second recession.’A third of adults will be taking a traditional British seaside holiday, 30% will have a UK city break and 25% a countryside trip.The findings echo those of an M&S Money survey of 2,000 Brits which revealed just over half (54%) have chosen to stay in the UK this summer.A quarter of those staying in the UK (26%) are doing so because they felt it would be more affordable and 8% said they wanted to stay in the country because of the Jubilee and Olympics.However, a London staycation is 25% more expensive than average foreign beach holiday: a week in London will set Brits back £1,631, compared to an average £1,298 for a beach holiday overseas.Alicante offers the best value at £927 for a week, followed by Marseille (£1,059), Gouves in Crete (£1,061), and Bodrum in Turkey (£1,102).Jane Lawson, head of travel money at M&S Money, said: ‘Staycations are clearly popular this year…in what will be a British summer to remember.‘However, with the cost of activities and eating out in the UK relatively high and favourable foreign exchange rates helping to make your money go further abroad, a holiday at home is not always the most affordable option.’
