Holidaymakers are taking fewer trips in the UK and Ireland but are happy to pay out more for quality products, a new report has found.
The Top Trends Report produced for BOBI by Euromonitor International found the number of domestic trips dropped 1% to 132 million holidays in 2013 compared to 2012.
However expenditure went up 2%. Two thirds of domestic trips taken last less than three days, suggesting many are one or two nights in length.
During a panel discussion at the BOBI trade show, Angela Byrne, head of tourism on the Isle of Man said spend from visitors on the island is up 10% year-on-year, while Manon Williams CEO of Visit Wales said spend per head is up 12% in the first nine months of 2013 compared to the same period in 2012.
The report found the West Midlands region has seen the largest increase in domestic trips in 2013 compared to 2012, while London saw a 5.5% boost and the south east registered a 7.2% rise.
The north east of England has seen the largest drop of domestic trips of 9.4% while Yorkshire saw an 8.7% decrease.
VisitEngland’s strategy and development director Louise Stewart, who was also on the panel, said the industry will face a harder challenge now that spend is on the rise, with the temptation for holidaymakers to head overseas again.
However she said the trend for holidaying near home had revived the British tourists’ love for their country.
“The trend to holiday near home will naturally tail off and holidaymakers will go to the sun but England is still in their repertoire. People have changed how they holiday and England is still in amongst the choice of breaks,” she said.
The Euromonitor report expects key UK cities will benefit from the introduction of High Speed 2 although the first phase is not due to open until 2026.
“Accessibility in the Midlands is currently limited or involves a number of transfers, and HS2 will provide a faster, more direct form of transport. Connectivity in this region may have positive efforts on regional businesses and could stimulate economic growth,” the report read. “Convenient access to the Midlands, Scotland and London can offer further tourism investment opportunities in these areas. Quicker travel times can encourage further growth for both business and leisure travel.”
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