Rise of the retro holiday
A new survey released by
travelsupermarket.com reveals that one in 10 British adults are more likely to visit a holiday park this summer due to the credit crunch. And according to the poll, nostalgic Brits believe that holiday parks offer good, old-fashioned family fun - so much so that six percent of people surveyed saying they haven’t been to one since they were a child but are considering doing so this year.
Bob Atkinson, travel expert at travelsupermarket.com, said:
“The humble holiday camp has come a long way since its invention in the 1950s, offering more activities, better accommodation and greater value for money than ever before. While Glamorous Granny and Knobbly Knees competitions are long gone, the entertainment has been updated for people of all generations to reflect today’s needs. From indoor water parks to spa experiences, sporting activities to performances from X-Factor stars and TV personalities, the array of activities on offer caters to all markets.
“With high hopes for good weather this summer, it makes sense for people to save a little money by holidaying in the UK this year, help the economy in the process – and show their families the fun they used to have holidaying at home. All companies have been investing heavily in their product, including £50m by Pontins and a new £20m hotel for Butlins at Bognor Regis.”
These findings are supported by major holiday parks companies, whose figures show:
- Pontins has seen a 20 percent rise in bookings compared to last year
- Butlins have seen a 15 percent increase in guest numbers over peak July/August period
- Center Parcs is anticipating a record year with people booking much further in advance for the peak July/August period.
Comparing regions, the highest number of people who visited holiday parks as children came from the North West (57 per cent), and people in the South East were proven to be the most likely to visit one this year (73 per cent).
The over 70s, 88 per cent of whom are planning to book their trip for Summer ’09, showed particular enthusiasm for the Hi-De-Hi holiday, with four fifths of this group stating that fond memories would encourage them to re-visit parts of the UK they visited during their childhoods.
Theodore Koumelis
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Thursday, April 09, 2009