Scots destinations top of staycation bucket list

Pipe Major Stuart Gillies of 2 Scots plays the The Heroes of St Valery in front of Edinburgh Castle. The castle is among top places British tourists plan to visit this year

The research, by Jury's Inn and Leonardo Hotels, shows that nearly two thirds of the nation are planning to holiday in the UK this year, with four in ten planning to visit famous parts of the country they have never seen before.

A separate study by Caterer.com also revealed that the Scottish Highlands have been picked as one of the UK’s top staycation hotspots post lockdown.

The report found that 41 per cent of people are keen to book a staycation as soon as they can. Over half of people say that they have saved money during lockdown and 36 per cent plan to put some of this towards holidaying at home, with the average UK household set to spend £960.

Neil Pattison, director at Caterer.com, said: “Our research shows that the demand that clearly exists for summer staycations will hopefully give the sector a much-needed boost.

“The industry has been adapting rapidly to not only comply with government regulations, but also align with changing customer expectations and needs. Our research demonstrates just how valuable hospitality businesses are to consumers, with the majority of people saying that their decision on whether to book a staycation relies heavily on restaurants, pubs and bars being open. The industry is looking forward to welcoming back loyal customers to help kickstart the economy.”

The Jurys Inn report found the top choices for a first time UK holiday destination include the Lake District and Padstow in Cornwall, with Arthurs Seat in the Scottish capital coming in third.

Also high on the list are the Yorkshire Dales, Jersey, Stonehenge, The Tower of London, the stunning beach of Durdle Door and Snowdonia.

Over two thirds of those surveyed said enjoying fish and chips eaten out of newspaper was the perfect ingredient for a traditional British summer holiday, while 40 per cent cited sitting in a sunny beer garden in the countryside as their favourite staycation treat.

When asked why they plan to holiday in the UK this summer, 43 percent of respondents admit they feel safer staying on home turf instead of going abroad as a result of the coronavirus crisis.

A spokesman for VisitScotland said: “It’s encouraging to hear Scotland remains at the forefront of UK visitors’ minds as Scottish tourism begins to reopen, which will give a much-needed boost to businesses. Our own marketing team has been working with partners across the country on a collaborative approach to welcome visitors again. It won’t be one size fits all however, as we need to move at a pace that will be right for communities in each part of Scotland.”

Suzanne Cannon, group marketing manager of Jurys Inn and Leonardo Hotels, said: “It appears that the nation is feeling positive and even looking forward to a British break this year. It’s no surprise really as the UK is home to some beautiful sights and plenty of ‘bucket list’ activities that the whole family can enjoy.”

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