08 October 2008

UK seaside towns set for revival

Brits will switch to cheap breaks on home turf to cope with the credit crunch, according to a recent survey.

New research from caravan insurance specialists Towergate Bakers reveals that 65% of Britons will be switching to cheap UK holidays over the next 12 months to beat the economic downturn.

It claims operators and agents selling long haul and expensive package holidays overseas face a tough year ahead.

Towergate Bakers asked a representative sample of more than 2,000 people what sort of holidays they were planning for the year ahead in order to avoid getting further into debt.

The most popular UK holiday choices were cottage holidays (26%), UK seaside town breaks (23%), caravan/caravan parks (20%) and camping (17%).

Caravan holidays are the top choice UK break for couples or parents in their 30s (21%).

The seaside town revival is most prevalent among 20 and 30 year olds (27%).

People in the Midlands - those furthest away from the seaside - are the people most likely to opt for a UK seaside break.

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.

Wales emerged as the new 2008-9 caravanning capital of the UK Ã¢â¬' with 24% of adults planning a caravan or caravan park break in the year ahead.

Paul Havenhand, marketing director at Towergate Bakers Insurance, commented: Ã¢â¬ÅâœYoung 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.Ã¢â¬~

*See linked ABTA Travel Convention Hoseasons story.

By Bev Fearis