According to research for the Post Office Travel Insurance Domestic Holidays Report, almost two-thirds of people – around 31.8 million UK adults – have decided to take a holiday in the UK during 2015. And, while nearly half (48 percent) will head to England’s southwest corner, Cornwall is the region’s star attraction.
The Cornish peninsula tied with Scotland as this year’s two most sought-after destinations with 17 percent of survey respondents planning visits to each destination. Wales was third most popular (16 percent) but Cornwall’s near neighbour and close competitor Devon was some way behind in fourth place. Twelve per cent said they were planning trips there, suggesting that the impact of the Poldark TV series has worked to Cornwall’s advantage in the race to attract tourists.
Cornwall, Devon and Dorset (nine percent) all look to be more popular than other destinations in England’s south. Only five percent of survey respondents named the Isle of Wight and Hampshire as their 2015 holiday destination while the same percentage said they are planning trips to Sussex or Brighton. By comparison, more people intend to visit the Lake District (12 percent), Yorkshire (11 percent) and the Peak District (6 percent).
The explanation for this may lie in a clear preference for countryside breaks. These are the type of holiday planned by over three-in-ten (31 percent), easily eclipsing beach holidays (22 percent). When combined with walking/hiking holidays and camping, each named by 12 percent of UK holidaymakers as the type of holiday they are planning, this suggests that significant numbers – 55 percent when these three holiday preferences are added together – prefer ‘fresh air’ trips.
Most UK holidaymakers will be travelling as a family (44 percent) or with a partner (43 percent) and the vast majority (78 percent) will use their car as transport. Only nine percent will travel by coach and eight percent by plane.
Despite the significant numbers of people planning UK holidays or short breaks, few bother to take out travel insurance. 64 per cent failed to do so for their last UK holiday. The Post Office Travel Insurance research found that it was not on the agenda for eight-in-ten of those surveyed – with 53 percent believing it unimportant and 27 percent having forgotten to do so. Only five percent said it was because they believed their household insurance would cover them.
Types of holidays planned by the 1,284 people taking UK based holidays this year:
Countryside short break | 31% |
City break | 24% |
Beach holiday | 22% |
Walking/hiking break | 12% |
Camping holiday | 12% |
Theme/Holiday Park | 10% |
Touring | 8% |
Other activity break | 6% |
Music/Cultural festival | 6% |
Coach holiday | 5% |
Cycling holiday | 2% |
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