Summer bookings at UK hotels and holiday parks have jumped compared with last year, as fears about flight cancellations and long delays at EU borders prompt many British holidaymakers to stay closer to home. A surge in last-minute bookings for domestic holidays comes amid warnings that airlines will raise fares due to higher jet fuel bills from the Middle East conflict, and a new EU border check system causing hours-long delays at major continental airports.
Surge in Last-Minute Bookings
Raoul Fraser, founder of holiday park operator Lovat Parks, said summer bookings had jumped 35% compared with last year. “People are booking as we get closer to the school holidays and more confident that we are going to have good weather in July,” he said. “With everything that is going on in Iran, many people do not want to go anywhere east of southern Europe and a lot of money is coming into the UK market.” Fraser also noted that reports of long queues and missed flights at some European airports due to the EU entry-exit system (EES) were putting people off booking abroad, especially older people and families with young children.
Stampede for Waterfront Stays
Matthew Price, chief executive of Awaze, the European holiday rental group behind Cottages.com and Hoseasons, reported a “stampede” to UK holiday accommodation near water. Summer bookings for stays near lakes and lochs were up 12% on last year, with riverside properties also 12% higher. Seaside towns such as Whitby, Bridlington, and Newquay were among the most popular destinations. “Breaks closer to home are really appealing. Holidaymakers are taking advantage of the warmer weather, booking spontaneous getaways where they can enjoy a dip and escape the heat,” Price added.
Domestic Travel Searches Rise
Booking.com reported that searches among UK travellers for domestic summer trips were up 10% compared with last year. The biggest rises in interest were for Liverpool, the Lincolnshire coastal town of Ingoldmells, and London, with Keswick in the Lake District ranking fourth.
Retailers Prepare for Staycation Surge
Waitrose has said it is preparing for what it predicts will be the “biggest staycation summer on record”. Sales at branches in popular holiday destinations are expected to surge, with Menai Bridge in Anglesey projected to see a 23% rise. The supermarket chain forecasts sales increases of 17% in Truro, Cornwall; Bridport, Dorset; and East Cowes, Isle of Wight.
Consumer Trends and Concerns
Sinead O’Connor, a travel analyst at market research company Mintel, said that while UK consumers were still more likely to opt for an overseas trip over a domestic one, there had been a 5% rise in staycation plans this summer. “Although Europe also remains a popular choice, reports of queues at the border gives Britons pause for thought, with 39% of consumers saying that the introduction of the entry-exit system has put them off travelling in Europe,” she said.
Abta, the UK travel industry body, found that 38% of potential holidaymakers had delayed their decision to book this summer, after months of headlines about travel disruption and restrictions due to the Iran war, speculation around jet fuel prices and availability, and queues caused by the EES.
