Travelodge predicts ‘bumper year’ for UK seaside locations
This year is set to be a bumper one for the Great British seaside as over half (58%) of Britons will holiday or take a mini-break to the coast this summer.
The annual Travelodge holiday index also found Britons will spend more than ever on their UK holidays this year, spending £729.80 on their breaks to give the UK economy a boost of almost £20bn.
The report, which surveyed 3,000 British adults for the past six years, showed that 2016 is set to be the biggest year for seaside visits since the study started – the previous biggest year was 2015, when visits to the seaside stood at 56%.
In 2013 just 31% visited a UK coastal location, showing how much the seaside has increased in popularity recently.
Coastal locations dominated the list of most popular destinations, with Cornwall topping the ‘staycation’ charts for the second consecutive year, followed by Devon (3rd), Blackpool (5th), Brighton (8th) and Scarborough (10th).
After the seaside holiday, the second most popular type of UK holiday at 38% for Britons is the city break with the top locations being: London (2nd), Edinburgh (6th), Manchester (12th), York (13th) and Liverpool (17th).
Meanwhile, Over a third (34%) of Britons will explore the UK’s stunning countryside. The most popular rural holiday hotspots for this year are: The Lake District (4th), Yorkshire Dales (7th), Scottish Highlands (9th), Norfolk Broads (15th) and The Cotswolds (19th).
The study also revealed that over two-thirds (67%) of Britons are taking a staycation break this year. The average British family is taking a one-week holiday supported by four short breaks throughout 2016.
The report said a fifth (19%) of families are going “all out” and taking a ‘traditional’ two-week holiday.
British holidaymakers will spend on average £729.80 on their UK break, the highest spend since the study began in 2011 and a 46% increase on last year when the average spend was £501.28
This is also an 83% increase from the lowest total holiday spend in 2013, when it was just £399.28.
Over half (55%) of Britons stated that Staycation breaks provide great value which is why they are spending more this year, and almost half (46%) say their holiday is the one thing they refuse to cut back on.