Brits Turn To UK For End of Summer Getaways, Boosting Domestic Tourism

Sunday, August 18, 2024

In a late-summer boost to the UK’s tourism sector, nearly one in five Brits are planning last-minute domestic getaways before the school term begins. According to recent data, seven out of ten people opted to staycation within the UK this August, with an additional 21 percent planning to do so in the coming weeks.

The research reveals that 91 percent of Britons view the UK as home to some of the world’s top travel destinations, with popular spots like Cornwall, the Yorkshire Dales, Dorset’s Jurassic Coast, Anglesey, and Northern Ireland’s Giant’s Causeway topping the list of favorites.

The cost of living crisis appears to have influenced travel habits, with nearly half of holidaymakers (47 percent) now regularly choosing domestic breaks—a noticeable increase from previous years. Flexibility is a key attraction, as four in ten families highlight the convenience of spontaneous road trips as a major perk of staying in the UK.

Despite this trend, when Brits do venture abroad, many continue to prefer cash, particularly euros and dollars, over debit and credit cards. A recent survey of 2,000 people found that more than two-thirds of adults are more likely to use foreign currency while traveling abroad than to use cash at home, driven by concerns about using bank cards overseas.

The survey, conducted by card payment processor Lopay, also notes that half of all travelers consistently carry local currency on their trips, with fewer than one in five choosing not to bother. Notably, the over-45s are significantly more likely to take foreign cash compared to the under-25s, with 57 percent of the older group doing so versus 39 percent of the younger demographic.

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