Holiday Parks set to deliver £5bn summer boost to UK economy
Research from the UK Caravan and Camping Alliance (UKCCA) shows that nearly £5 billion is due to be spent in rural tourism economies during the summer months by holiday park and campsite visitors
Plus, holiday park and campsite operators will spend a further £100m every year for the next three years on site maintenance and improvements – this is money that will further boost local trade economies.
Rory Stewart MP represents Penrith and The Border in Cumbria, a constituency which includes a large part of the Lake District where tourism is now worth £3bn a year.
Mr Stewart said: “Visitors to holiday parks and campsites are vital contributors to our region’s economy, as they are in many other rural areas of Britain – and I am proud that Cumbria is able to provide families with a superb choice of first-class options of places to stay.
“I know from visits to holiday parks in my constituency that providers of such accommodation are committed to delivering the very highest standards.
“The importance of tourism to areas such as my constituency is underlined by the fact that visitors to Cumbria now support 65,000 jobs – a fifth of all employment. The caravan and campsites sector has many smaller and long-established family-run businesses, and I would like to take this opportunity to recognise their enterprise and hard work.”
VisitEngland Director, Patricia Yates, said: “This glorious weather has been providing the perfect opportunity to get out and explore our outstanding destinations and visitor attractions, from our coastal towns and vibrant cities to our stunning countryside.
“And it is no wonder more than a fifth of all domestic holidays in England take place in the great outdoors with our huge variety of caravan parks and campsites up and down the country. The summer holidays are just around the corner and with the ease and convenience of booking a holiday at home, now is the perfect time to book a staycation. This will drive growth from tourism across the country and also boost local economies.”
The UKCCA research also shows that holiday park and campsite visitors spend, on average, almost £300 per week when holidaying – this money is spent on eating out, shopping and visitor attractions.
Barney Reynolds, owner of The Swan Inn at Hanley Swan near Worcester, said: “The Swan benefits hugely from having two large campsites a short walk away and I anticipate the business they bring in adds £8,000 a week to our turnover. I’m a caravan owner myself and even with the cooking facilities in my own unit, it’s nice to sometimes go out and buy local produce and support local businesses.”
Caravan and camping holidays are increasing both in demand and popularity, and with the summer months set fair and sunny, this sector is going to bring a welcome boost to the British tourism economy.
Full details of the UKCCA research can be found at www.ukcca.org.uk
