More Britons plan staycation in 2017 than took one in 2016
More Britons plan to take their main holiday in the UK in 2017 than did so in 2016, with eastern Europe another favoured option for this year.
That's according to research from Travelzoo, which asked over 1,200 Britons where they planned to holiday.
It found that 52.4% of respondents were considering the United Kingdom or western Europe for their main holiday in 2017, with 24% saying they would be holidaying in England, 6% in Scotland, 4% in Wales, and 3% in Ireland.
That compares to a similar survey conducted in October last year which found that 29% of Britons said they had spent their 2016 holiday in the UK.
Meanwhile, fears about safety and the weakness of the pound is driving more Britons away from traditional western European destinations in favour of eastern Europe.
Travelzoo said that central and eastern Europe as a whole (12%) was now more appealing and affordable for Britons than Spain (10%).
Croatia, Bulgaria and Poland were found to be the most popular eastern European holiday destinations this year, despite the fact that nearly half (45%) of Britons considering travelling there admit that they wouldn't have done so before 2017.
Brandon-Bravo continued: "UK tourists who are now looking further east won't be disappointed. If you take the Balkan Peninsula for example, the coastlines of Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro, are just a stone's throw from the east coast of Italy. They boast the same warm weather and beautiful beaches, lakes and mountains, and present a wonderful opportunity for British people to explore new travel gems.
"The fact British holidaymakers are considering alternative, more affordable travel destinations this year is certainly positive news for the travel industry too - particularly after what has been a turbulent 18 months. Last year we were right about 2016 being the year of the US, so we're confident this rise in popularity for Eastern Europe will come to fruition in 2017."
