UK holiday destinations benefiting from strengthened euro

Over half of UK holidaymakers say that they are planning to take their breaks closer to home this summer, and Blackpool and the West Country are being listed among the top destinations, according to a recent report compiled for the budget hotel chain Travelodge.

A survey was conducted of 3,500 Britons, and found out that 54 per cent intend to take their summer holidays in the UK. Most said that they would be heading to the seacoast, with 13 per cent indicating they would visit Blackpool. Fifteen per cent said that they would be taking their holidays in the south-west.

The managing director of Travelodge, Guy Parsons, said that this was welcome news for the country’s domestic tourism industry. He emphasized, however, that Britain was not doing enough to attract foreign tourists, who should be more likely to visit given the strength of the euro against the pound.

Official statistics show that foreign tourists arrivals dropped by 4.5 per cent in October, as compared with the same month in 2007.

“If marketed correctly the UK has the chance to position itself as the top value destination in 2009,” he said. “With the strong dollar and euro, a trip to London can become an affordable luxury.”

Tour operators have already cut back on the number of summer holidays abroad offered for summer 2009, due to decreased demand in the wake of the credit crunch and also the weak pound.

Thanks to www.guardian.co.uk for the above quotes, for more information on this article please visit their website.

www.travelodge.co.uk