Britain’s pet-lovers are driving a sustained boom in staycations with more and more families opting for ‘whole-family’ holidays closer to home, according to Sykes Holiday Cottages.
The leading independent holiday home provider enjoyed a record year in 2019, with those looking for dog-friendly breaks helping drive a 28% year-on-year increase in bookings compared with 2018.
The trend was boosted by prolonged uncertainty over Brexit, with many of those booking their summer holidays early in the year doing so not knowing what the UK’s planned departure from the EU in March 2019 might mean for pet passports or other travel arrangements.
Graham Donoghue, chief executive of Sykes Holiday Cottages, said:
“Our customers tell us that their pets are one of the family. When it comes to booking breaks, people increasingly want somewhere their whole family can go – pets and all. “The joy of booking in the UK is that it offers something for everyone – from luxurious spa breaks in the Cotswolds and stunning dog-walks along the Devon coast to adrenalin-filled adventures in the mountains of North Wales or the Lake District.
“As a result, we were particularly busy with people booking both their main holidays in the height of summer with us, as well as top-up breaks at Easter or one of the half-terms.”
The trend shows no sign of slowing now holidaymakers can plan with more certainty this year. Sunday, January 12, 2020 – dubbed Staycation Sunday – was Chester-based Sykes’ busiest booking day ever, with 30% more bookings made than on the corresponding day in 2019. Bookings for summer 2020 are already 20% higher than at the same stage last year.
The demand for adventure and walking holidays – together with their central locations – meant growth in bookings was largest in North Wales and the Yorkshire Dales in 2019, with Devon, Cornwall and Dorset making up the top five regions.
Sykes Holiday Cottages now offers more than 19,000 holiday homes across the UK, Ireland and New Zealand and employs more than 800 people.
As well as the popularity of staycations, growing demand from British second home-owners to make the most effective use of their properties all year round saw the number of new owner enquiries rise by 51 per cent during 2019.
Donoghue added:
“Although holidaymakers have more clarity this year, the prospect of prolonged uncertainty for investors has helped drive more and more people to buy holiday homes here in the UK, and for those who already own second properties to seek to maximise the income they can provide.”