Well, sorta.
Figures released by Visit Britain showed that 4.9 million out of 25 million people who left Britain\’s shores in 2008 will try and save money by choosing a domestic setting.
Alastair Sawday\’s, which publishes the Special Places to Stay books featuring upmarket and quirky B&Bs, reported an increase of nearly 70 per cent in hits on its British website this year.
The change in the fortunes of sterling, which has dropped by 13 per cent against the euro in the last two months, also means that more tourists are coming to Britain from the continent to make the most of cheaper prices. Holidaymakers are now receiving less than one euro to the pound.
Sian Brenchly, a spokesman for the tourism agency, said: "We have found that the economic situation is making people take another look at holidays at home.
It\’s difficult to think of holidaying in Skegness as a benefit of anything at all but there it is. By having an independent currency we can indeed provide a fiscal boost to the economy without having to either tax or spend.
If this year’s holidays were anything to go by – and at least here in Devon if did appear there was a significant increase in visitor numbers – I suspect it will be a case of ‘once bitten, twice shy’. This place did nothing but rain throughout the summer, and I doubt any of those brave souls will ever return. It may cost, but somehow punters will find the money to go wherever the sun shines.
The Turkish lira is very weak. Even a pound goes a long way in Lira.
Whilst Skeggy does have its attractions, I think that the British Marmaris invasion will be even bigger in 2009.
I once did a holiday in Cornwall and Devon for a week. Two of us, stayed nowhere remotely fancy, no special meals, no expensive attractions.
Cost me a grand.
Never again. If things are really bad, I’ll stay at home, the British tourist industry is the very acme of “rip-off Britain.”
As Brits make up a big % of Med holidaymakers, the travel operators, apartment owners, airlines etc will have to drop their prices to keep us coming or else they will have huge vacancies (and the rest of Europe is in recession even if it doesn’t have the currency issue). Obnoxio’s experience is a common one – the UK is an expensive place to be on holiday, especially as the weather is likely to drive one to expensive “attractions”; just sitting on a beach/by a pool and reading a book is rarely an option.
a grand for 2 people for a week. A dinner for 2 in London is about £100 – so that’s £700 straight out of the window. a Travelodge at £50. And we haven’t covered lunch or sight-seeing or entertainment. There’s your £1000… just what kind of places does Obnoxio go to on holiday? Unless you go to the 3rd World, surely you would expect to pay about a grand for 2 people for a week?
Put another way, we can cheat our way out of trouble, just like we have always done.