Economic Meltdown Drives Parents back to UK Holidays
8th October 2008
The UK’s traditional seaside towns are set to be some of the few
net gainers from the credit crunch and economic turmoil. New
research from insurance specialists Towergate Bakers reveals that
65% of Britons will be switching to cheap UK holidays over the next
12 months to beat the credit crunch - and our coastal towns return
to favour as top holiday choices.
At a time when the economic downturn has rocked major tour
operators - and when a variety of cost of living hikes have hit
family disposable income - the new research suggests long haul and
expensive package holidays overseas face a tough year ahead, as
British consumers choose to spend their money in the UK, giving a
surprise boost to UK tourism and the economy at large.
As part of a new study into UK and drive holidays, Towergate
Bakers asked a GB representative sample of more than 2,000 people
what sort of holidays for the year ahead they were planning in
order to avoid getting further into debt.
Key Findings:
- With 65% of Brits choosing a cheap
UK break in the year ahead to avoid sliding into needless debt, the
most popular overall UK holiday choices comprised: Cottage holiday
26%; UK seaside town break 23%; caravan/caravan park 20% and
camping 17%.
- Caravan holidays are the top choice
UK break for couples or parents in their 30’s – 21%. Dispelling the
myth that caravans and caravan parks are a pastime for retirees,
caravan breaks are now most popular with young
families.
- For the under 25 ‘festival
generation’ camping is the top choice budget holiday – 32% - young
Brits preferring the great outdoors to the comfort of a B&B or
a holiday cottage. People in their 20’s are almost most likely to
take to the water with a slow moving barge holiday –
11%.
- The seaside town revival is most
prevalent among 20 and 30 year olds – 27%. Regionally, people in
the Midlands – those furthest away from the seaside - are the
people most likely to opt for a UK seaside break.
Other Regional Findings:
- Capital Comforts:
People from London are least likely to be attracted to the idea on
spending their holiday in a tent or on a camp site (14%),
preferring the comforts of a holiday cottage.
- Celtic Caravans:
Wales emerged as the new 2008-9 caravanning capital of the UK –
with 24% of adults planning a caravan or caravan park break in the
year ahead.
- Red Coat Heaven:
The North East share the honours with the affluent, image conscious
South East as the regions most likely to opt for a holiday camp in
the year ahead (17% and 15%).
Paul Havenhand, Marketing Director at Towergate
Bakers Insurance commented: “As the UK’s leading
caravan insurer we have noticed a return to popularity of
traditional UK holidays. Young parents often have nostalgic
memories of their own childhood holidays and this combined with the
economic downturn will create a boom in UK holidays in the year
ahead. For families planning a UK break we do recommend they check
their insurance arrangements, especially if it’s going to be their
first caravan holiday.”
