/Brits opt for a staycation

MORE than seven million Brits stayed at home for the August bank holiday weekend, according to a VisitEngland survey.

Its August bank holiday TripTracker survey shows that 7.3m Brits planned an overnight holiday trip in the UK, bringing an estimated £1.75bn boost to the economy.

The figures show an increase on last year’s results when 6.9m Brits planned to take an overnight holiday trip during the August bank holiday weekend. In 2016 the figure was 5.1m.

Tourism Minister Michael Ellis said: “Tourism benefits communities across the country and this weekend will bring a significant boost to businesses and the economy. The UK has world-class attractions, culture and stunning scenery and I am hugely encouraged that domestic tourism is performing so strongly.”

VisitEngland director Patricia Yates said: “It is great to see that more Brits are planning a holiday at home and enjoying the outstanding destinations right on our doorstep. From countryside to coastal towns, cool cities and quality attractions, the UK is packed full of experiences that you can’t get anywhere else.

“We are hearing from many destinations and tourism businesses that they are experiencing a strong summer. The certainty of budgeting for a holiday at home, the ease and convenience, are all contributing to people choosing to take more domestic trips, boosting the economy and spreading the benefits of tourism across the country.”

More Brits have been taking holidays at home. From January to December 2017 Brits took 59m domestic holidays in Great Britain, up six per cent on 2016.

Brits spent £14.1bn on domestic holidays in Great Britain last year, also up 6%.

The number of Brits taking short-breaks of one to three nights in England was up seven per cent in 2017 compared to the previous year.

Brits are taking almost six million more short-breaks in England than they were a decade ago.

Tourism is worth £127bn to the UK economy.