Domestic holidays expected to boost UK economy by £12b, says survey
A record number of British holidaymakers are expected to take a vacation in the UK this year, according to latest research from budget hotel group Travelodge.
The fifth annual holiday report, which surveyed 3,000 British adults, predicts that 65% of Britons will spend their summer holiday at home, which is a significant increase on the past two years, when 41% and 35% of the population took a domestic break.
Grant Hearn, chief executive of Travelodge said: "The staycation trend accelerating to record levels and boosting our economy by £12b this year, is a very welcome sign, and hopefully this is the start of our 2012 Olympics legacy gain.
"However we cannot rest on our laurels, as one of Britain's biggest business sectors, the opportunity to grow is still great. We are not yet near to unlocking the true potential of our industry. British tourism needs to be treated like a serious business sector and the Government needs to move our industry from the ineffective Department of Culture Media & Sports to the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills. Lack of immediate action is costing jobs, growth and investment."
City breaks are the most popular form of UK holidays, with 31% of those surveyed saying they will be heading to the bright lights, while 27% will opt for a rural break, 22% will got to seaside, 18% will spend time visiting family and 15% will take a trip to an historic site.
London is the top destination for UK holiday makers, taking over from last year's most popular destination of Cornwall.
The table below lists the top Staycation destinations in 2013, alongside last year's choices:
 | 2013 Staycation Destinations |  | 2012 Staycation Destinations |
1 | London | 1 | Cornwall |
2 | Edinburgh | 2 | Lake District |
3 | Lake District | 3 | Devon |
4 | Cornwall | 4 | London |
5 | Scottish Highlands | 5 | Edinburgh |
6 | Dorset | 6 | Scottish Highlands |
7 | Devon | 7 | Wales |
8 | North Wales | 8 | Blackpool |
9 | Blackpool | 9 | Great Yarmouth |
10 | York | 10 | Scarborough |