Could 2011 be the year of the homeliday?
Fuel prices, air taxes, job losses and pay freezes are forcing holidaymakers to consider swapping their overseas trip for a staycation this year, we’ve been told, but now a new survey shows that some think they’ll be better off travelling abroad.
According to a poll by TripAdvisor, the steady but consistent rise in petrol prices could have a detrimental effect on UK domestic holidays.
A survey of over 2,000 British travellers revealed that 19% were less likely to holiday in the UK this year because they said driving would be too expensive.
The results come just weeks after the Government released its new tourism strategy aimed at growing domestic travel.
“British drivers are clearly frustrated with the ever-rising cost of petrol,” said TripAdvisor spokeswoman Emma O’Boyle. “It makes British road trips less feasible and low-cost flights to other countries more appealing."
However, since airlines are increasing fuel supplements and major tour operators admit to seeing a fall in forward bookings for this summer, perhaps the staycation will come to meet precisely that – staying at home. A homeliday, maybe?
By Linsey McNeill
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Qatar Airways offers reduced timetable to over 60 destinations
Hands In, UATP join forces for airline multi-card payments
AirlineRatings reveals world's safest airline rankings for 2026
Vietnam warns airlines of possible flight reductions amid jet fuel shortages
Fliggy opens AI-powered travel bookings and developer tools