Families eye staycation this summer

London: Two out of three families are resorting to a ‘staycation’ this summer as the squeeze on household budgets makes foreign holidays unaffordable, a study has found.

The number of Britons holidaying in the UK rose from 35 per cent to 41 per cent between 2011 and 2012, and this year is expected to jump to 65 per cent.

The study found Cornwall had been overtaken as a staycation hotspot by London, Edinburgh and the Lake District.

The survey found 42 per cent of staycationers will holiday for one week this summer, 15 per cent for two weeks, and a third will have three short domestic breaks.

Those in Wolverhampton, Liverpool, Cardiff, Chelmsford and Manchester were most likely to stay in Britain, according to the study, commissioned by Travelodge. The hotel chain says the staycation surge will boost the UK tourism industry by £3.3 billion (Dh18.4 billion) compared with last year, making it worth a total of £12 billion.

However, a separate study published by Thomas Cook suggests Britain is not the cheap option many believe it to be.

It found that in the UK, a basket of typical holiday purchases — from a glass of wine to a meal and ice cream — costs £125.74, making it the second most expensive destination after Sydney, Australia, at £157.96.

However, the survey did not include travel and accommodation, which is where those who holiday at home make big savings.