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Half of people prefer staycations, UK holiday park operator claims

Half of people prefer to holiday in the UK with just 2% choosing to only take breaks abroad, a new poll claims.

The remaining 48% have a mixture of holidays in the UK and overseas.

The survey of 417 people by domestic holiday parks operator Verdant Leisure found that good UK weather in recent years has helped boost the popularity of staycations.

As many as 40% of those asked said they prefer to take three or four holidays a year.

Almost half of respondents opt for a short break of three to four nights as opposed to just a sixth of respondents who holiday for a full week.

And 41% revealed it was the local cultural attractions that they most preferred to explore while staying in the UK on holiday.

Rising temperatures and changing holiday habits has led to a 20% year-on-year increase in holiday sales, according to the operator of nine UK sites.

Verdant Leisure acquired Dumfries and Galloway-based Queensberry Bay Leisure Park and spent more than £2.5 million on improvements to its parks in the past year in addition to Scoutscroft near Eyemouth.

Commercial director Bev Dixon said: “In the past year we have been very lucky with the weather; last year’s heatwave saw many of our customers choose to holiday at a Verdant Leisure park instead of travelling aboard.

“This is a trend we are seeing across the travel industry as 30% of British holidaymakers say they plan to stay in the UK.

“We have welcomed two new parks to our portfolio, Scoutscroft and Queensberry Bay, and both have been extremely popular with our guests.

“Because of the growing popularity of our seven other parks we have continued to heavily invest in facilities and accommodation.”

Holidays at Verdant Leisure parks are available for the trade to sell via Hoseasons.

 

 

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