A survey has revealed that many British holidaymakers managed to hold off booking a holiday until the London 2012 Olympic Games closing ceremony.
The study, conducted by Amadeus and ForwardKeys has revealed that departures to any destination from London before the opening ceremony were 5% lower than the recorded figure in 2011.
These findings highlight that holidaymakers have made a conscious decision to stay at home to support the many athletes involved with team GB, whilst showing their patriotic spirit towards Britain.
After coming third in the medal table with 29 gold medals, 17 silver and 16 bronze, people have clearly been engrossed in the Games, watching our professional athletes perform for Great Britain.
As London was expected to be even busier than usual, it was predicted that many people would escape overseas or visit the countryside for peace and quiet. But it appears that the British spectators have revelled in the sporting spirit and have cheered team GB along the way.
As summer is usually the most popular time to book a holiday, it comes as a surprise that many holidaymakers have booked in the three weeks after London 2012. Figures have revealed that bookings figures are up 10% during these three weeks in comparison to last year, highlighting that people are looking to treat themselves to a break after the Games.
The figures, based on international air reservations has also revealed that 13% of tourists will be planning a trip to areas of London after the Olympics has subsided. However, many people will also be looking to escape the hustle and bustle by visiting the surrounding countryside locations.
This also brings positive news to UK tourism and the accommodation industry as many more people have chosen to take a staycation this year, to holiday near to home and be close to the games.
Independent Cottages has a fantastic range of self-catering holiday cottages that are perfect for those in need of a break after the Olympic Games.