Britain proved the most popular destination for travellers in 2011 according to research by Expedia .co.uk.
This was a 10% rise over 2010 and the trend to domestic breaks is set to continue into 2012
New activities such as local culinary tours and cooking classes and the rise of local bicycle schemes such as Boris Bikes in London are encouraging people to explore in new ways.
Expedia UK and Ireland managing director Andy Washington said: “It has been an eventful year for the travel industry and a tough year for certain popular travel destinations, but we’ve noticed time and again that people tend not to forego their annual holiday.
“It’s encouraging to see that Brits are taking advantage of the multitude of attractions closer to home in the UK and embracing staycations.”
He added: “2011 has highlighted the mixed approach to holidaying taken by Brits in troubled times.
“As some are drawn to holidaying at home, others simply look for alternative destinations – with Spain and Turkey particularly growing in popularity during the Arab Spring.
“The other notable trend was deal hunting – with savvy travellers taking advantage of the great deals to be had in destinations like Egypt and Japan as these destinations recover. Yet what’s absolutely clear is our determination to keep our holidays.”
Top 10 holiday destinations in 2011
1 Southern UK regions
2 London
3 New York
4 Paris
5 Las Vegas
6 Rome
7 Amsterdam
8 Barcelona
9 Regional Northern France
10 Edinburgh
