Holiday Park operator Away Resorts is forecasting another bumper year for staycations in 2023 after recording a surge in demand for holidays closer to home. The company, which has 21 UK locations, saw year-on-year bookings climb by 30% in 2022, as the cost-of-living crisis prompted many Brits to swap their usual holiday abroad for a staycation.
Bookings for 2023 are already on track to exceed 2022, with holidays during the February half-term and Easter break going fast. Away Resorts’ parks include Tattershall Lakes and Cleethorpes Pearl in Lincolnshire, Mersea Island in Essex, The Bay Filey in Yorkshire and Retallack and St Ives Bay in Cornwall.
As more Brits seek out holiday destinations in their home country, the rising cost of living has also led to people taking shorter breaks. Booking data from Away Resorts shows that while the average length of a stay in 2022 was 5.8 days, for 2023 it currently stands at 4.9 days.
These booking trends reflect the wider picture in the travel industry, where budget-stretched consumers are shifting their travelling behaviours. A recent survey of 2,000 holidaymakers, commissioned by online travel agent loveholidays, found that 46% of those making cost-driven changes to their plans will go away for a shorter period of time.
Away Resorts is urging people who are planning a staycation in 2023 to book early to avoid disappointment. Coastal and lakeside resorts were its most popular destinations in 2022 , with Tattershall Lakes accounting for 16% of all bookings, followed by Sandy Balls in Hampshire at 14%.
Carl Castledine, CEO of Away Resorts, said: “Staycations have always been popular with British tourists, but the cost-of-living crisis has undoubtedly accelerated the demand for all the wonderful destinations we have across the country.
“This demand looks set to continue into 2023, so we’re doing all we can to help people book the right break for their budget. For example, Away Resorts is the only UK staycation operator to offer ‘Any Day Arrivals’, allowing the kind of flexibility that today’s holidaymakers are looking for. We believe this will be an important trend going forward, as travellers look for holiday booking options that better suit their needs. Our 21 parks are based in some of the UK’s most breath-taking locations, surrounded by glorious countryside and coast lines, and provide a great base for family fun and relaxation at an affordable price. We can’t wait to see what 2023 will bring!”
For more information on Away Resorts, click here.
