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Figures released today by VisitEngland from the United Kingdom Tourism Survey show that holiday trips taken by UK residents in England in the first four months of 2009 are up by 13 percent. That amounts to 1.2 million more holiday trips and over 5 million extra nights’ holiday taken than in the same period of 2008.
While overall trips from the January to April have remained at a stable 27 million, the holiday sector has benefited from Brits choosing to take their breaks close to home this year. Figures from the Office of National Statistics confirm that outbound travel from Britain is down 18 percent in the same four months, adding further evidence that 2009 is the year to holiday at home.
The report, released on a monthly basis by VisitEngland, shows that overall trips taken throughout England in the month of April have increased by 34 percent, though the Easter break falling in April rather than March in 2009 undoubtedly a significant factor in this impressive rise.
Business travel however over the four-month period is down by 11 percent, as companies continue to look for ways to save money in a difficult economic climate.
The total amount spent on overnight travel since January is down by 5 percent overall across types of trips, but the holiday sector in England has again bucked the trend, with an increase of 4 percent over the same period.