Twice as many Brits plan ‘staycations’ in 2012

SCOTLAND is set to benefit from twice as many Britons planning to holiday at home this year rather than go abroad, with three destinations north of the Border on the top ten list of destinations, a report has revealed.

And around four times as many holidaymakers plan to stay in the UK as go to the United States, according to BDRC Continental’s Holiday Trends 2012 survey.

The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and the Olympics were cited as two reasons more Britons plan to holiday at home.

Despite the downturn, 89 per cent of people were considering a break of seven days or more in 2012, including 58 per cent who planned to stay in the UK.

About a third of staycationers said they would opt for Scotland for their annual break – with the Highlands top choice of destination.

Fifteen per cent said they would go to the Highlands, while a further 9 per cent were planning a holiday in Edinburgh.

Other popular destinations among staycationers were Cornwall, Devon and London.

Steve Mills, director of BDRC Continental, said: “Families remain committed to taking a main holiday and one of the legacies of the staycation is the realisation that you don’t have to abandon holidays completely in difficult times.

“And it’s not just about perceptions of saving money. Holidaying in the UK has become a positive choice.

“Standards of service and accommodation are undoubtedly improving and people are rediscovering what the UK has to offer.”

About four in ten UK holidaymakers said the Olympics were likely to have an impact on their plans.

Around 11 per cent said they expected to spend more on their holidays.

The same percentage of people said the Diamond Jubilee would make them holiday abroad, but almost 20 per cent claimed it would be more likely to encourage them to stay in the UK.

Mike Cantlay, chairman of VisitScotland, said: “We have watched staycations turn from a trend into a habit, so it is little surprise so many people are choosing to holiday at home in 2012.

“This year, the Year of Creative Scotland, the Olympics, the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and the release of Disney-Pixar’s Brave, a feature-length animation set in the Highlands, will encourage even more people from the UK to see what Scotland has to offer.”

The survey also found that around 88 per cent of overseas visitors to Britain in 2011 said they would return this year.