5.3 million Brits plan domestic break for Platinum Jubilee weekend, bringing an £1.2 billion economic boost

Thursday, May 26, 2022 0

A VisitEngland survey out today shows that 5.3 million Brits are definitely planning an overnight holiday break in the UK during the extended Bank Holiday weekend for the Platinum Jubilee, bringing an estimated £1.2 billion boost to the economy.

VisitEngland’s ‘Platinum Jubilee Weekend Trip Tracker’ survey also showed that well over a third, 19 million, are planning to take part in activities to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee, from attending a ‘Big Jubilee Lunch’ street party to lunch in a pub, restaurant or café, to watching events on an outdoor screen or attending official celebrations. In addition, almost a quarter of those surveyed were still to decide.

VisitEngland Chief Executive Patricia Yates said:

“The upcoming Bank Holiday is a fantastic opportunity for an extra special short-break at home or a day-out, enjoying the once-in-a-lifetime celebrations and show-stopping events for the historic Platinum Jubilee. From afternoon teas and street parties to beacon lighting ceremonies, pageants and parades, people are set to celebrate with friends and neighbours in royal style.

“The long weekend is also set to bring a much-needed boost to the industry and destinations as the summer season gets underway and our outstanding tourism businesses will be very pleased to welcome you back.”

Looking at those intending to take an overnight domestic break in the UK for the extended Bank Holiday weekend, the top destination type is ‘city or large town’ followed by ‘coastal town’.

The survey also showed that a further 2.6 million people were undecided about whether to take an overnight holiday trip in the UK during the long weekend. The top reasons were ‘waiting to see what the weather is like,’ ‘waiting to see if I can afford it’ and ‘not sure where I’d like to go.’

VisitBritain’s full Platinum Jubilee Trip Tracker survey can be accessed here: https://www.visitbritain.org/sites/default/files/vb-corporate/trip_tracker_platinum_jubilee_2022_final_2022-05-25.pdf <http://link.visitengland.com/ …>.

For information about events and celebrations across England during spring and summer to mark HM The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee including official events during the extended Bank Holiday weekend, please see: https://www.visitengland.com/queens-platinum-jubilee-spring-and-summer-celebrations-across-england-1

Notes to editors:

VisitBritain has estimated the loss to the economy in domestic tourism spending in Britain, in 2020 and 2021 combined, to be £97.1 billion. It estimates the loss from inbound tourism to the UK to be £50 billion.
In May, VisitEngland announced the successful recipients of its Destination Management Organisation Marketing Recovery Fund <http://link.visitengland.com/ …> to support tourism’s recovery in England. Running from mid-March to the end of June, the £1 million fund enables DMOs to tailor and align VisitEngland’s national ‘Escape the Everyday’ campaign <http://link.visitengland.com/ …> to drive bookings of local tourism products.

About VisitEngland’s Trip-Tracker Survey

VisitEngland commissions online omnibus surveys periodically in order to collect data on the number of GB consumers who plan to take an overnight trip at key times throughout the year.
In this Platinum Jubilee edition, the survey was carried out in an online survey by Kantar TNS with a representative sample size of 1255 adults over the age of 16 years old in Great Britain.
The fieldwork took place between 19th –23rd May 2022.
Trip volumes are based on an adult (16+) population of 52.9 Million in GB (Office of National Statistics)
For the full report visit our Bank Holiday Trip-Tracker page <http://link.visitengland.com/ …>