Life is a beach as staycations on rise

We’ve always known that Sunderland was a great place to visit. Beautiful beaches, friendly people and the warmest of welcomes (if not always the warmest of weather).

And it seems others are now realising what we’ve known for years after a reported rise in the number of Sunderland staycations.

According to new figures, Airbnb and Vrbo hosts in Sunderland saw a 13.8 per cent rise in bookings during April 2021 compared with the same period in 2019, while occupancy rates for April soared by 47 per cent compared to the previous month.

It is welcome news after Government data showed how Sunderland’s tourism sector shrank by 54% during 2020. But the rising popularity of staycations and the easing of lockdown measures is said to have provided a major boost to Sunderland’s visitor economy.

Perhaps not suprisingly, the seafront was a big factor in Sunderland’s attraction. Out of the 193 property listings across the city, seven of the 10 most popular properties over the past 12 months were within walking distance of Roker and Seaburn.

And with developments such as STACK and the Seaburn Inn added to the appeal of a trip to our coastline, we hope those numbers continue to rise. It has been a challenging time for everyone during the pandemic, including those who work in the hospitality sector and who rely heavily on tourism for an economic boost.

So let’s hope Sunderland continues to prove a popular destination for those planning summer staycations.

Wish you were here? It seems many do now!