While substantial numbers of British holidaymakers are planning to take a holiday in the UK this year, many others are still undecided according to Visit England, the official travel promotional agency for England.
Around 10.3 million British holidaymakers have planned to take their vacation within the UK this year, with around 8.9 million people specifically planning to travel to English destinations, according to the study.
These vacations are likely to boost local economies by around GBP2.3bn in the UK, with around GBP1.9bn to be spent in England alone.
It is likely that around 5.9million British travellers will be holidaying abroad during the same period this year.
Even at this late stage it is estimated that around 10.8 million British holidaymakers are yet to decide on a summer vacation, mainly due to increasing concerns about the financial situation and the inclement weather, while 22 percent of those surveyed are waiting for a last minute deal that will suit their budget, before deciding on a holiday.
James Berresford, the chief executive of VisitEngland, said, ‘I am delighted to see that over ten million people are planning to holiday at home this summer.
The industry has a vast opportunity to inspire those still undecided and convince them that England is the place to be this summer.
If we convert even half of those who are undecided about taking a summer break in England, we could potentially contribute an additional GBP600 million to the UK economy.
The trend for last minute bookings is strong; this coupled with the recent return of sunshine to our shores could provide the industry with a welcome boost.’
