Cotswolds in top 10 staycation destinations
Blackpool, Brighton and Bournemouth were the top UK holiday destinations for Britons this summer with the Cotswolds coming in fifth, it was revealed today.
More than 12 million Britons took breaks in their own country in the summer, according to a survey by travelsupermarket.com.
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The Cotswolds
Around three million decided on a “staycation” after ditching plans for a foreign holiday, while 43% of those having a summer break at home had a better or much better experience than they expected.
Other popular spots for holidaying Britons this summer were Newquay in Cornwall, the Cotswolds and the Lake District.
Bob Atkinson, of travelsupermarket.com, said: “It’s great that Britons have started to rediscover the great British Isles as a holiday destination. Yes, we might not get the guaranteed good weather of foreign climes, but the range of choice, activities and family entertainment are excellent.”
Councillor Maxine Callow, portfolio holder for tourism and regeneration in Blackpool, said: “Blackpool had 10 million visitors in 2008. In 2009, the resort is enjoying a huge upsurge in popularity and is forecasting to show a 25% increase in visitor numbers by the end of this year.”
A spokesman from Visit Brighton said: “August this year was the busiest month in four years for people going to our visitor information centre and online bookings in July and August were the highest we’ve had for at least two years.”
These were the top UK holiday destinations of summer 2009:
1. Blackpool
2. Brighton
3. Bournemouth
4. Newquay and Cornwall in general
5. Cotswolds
6. Lake District
7. Scottish Highlands
8. Western Isles
9. London
10 Llyn Peninsula, North Wales
5 Comments
by Mark Datter, Universecity
Monday, October 05 2009, 12:25PM
“Dear Kath! It was I that mentioned Bourton-on-the-Water as an example of the worst kind of tourism, that can destroy the beauty of the Cotswolds”
by Kath, Chelt
Monday, October 05 2009, 11:41AM
“Where does it mention Bourton BBJ?”
by BBJ, Fairford
Sunday, October 04 2009, 6:52PM
“¿¿.it was revealed¿ Oh yeah?¿.Here we go again! Just how are these figures concocted anyway.
Best not to knock Bourton on the Water! It¿s THE place in the Cotswolds for every lazy writer, quite simply because it feeds so much free repetitive copy. I was born not far from there but have watched it change over six decades.
Let the grockles all flock to it in their droves! The rest of the Cotswolds (whatever that encompasses)¿¿remains mostly candy-floss free.”
by Mark Datter, Universecity
Sunday, October 04 2009, 3:06PM
“If this is a competition for the most visited place they can keep it! What the Cotswolds need is LESS visitors, just look at what a terrible mess they`ve made of Bourton-on-the-Water. Don`t let the rest of the Cotswolds become an ice cream, cream-tea, souvenir shop, tourbus destination. Now if it was a beauty competition, the beautiful, historic, charming, interesting, wonderful, world beating Cotswolds would win hands down! PS. Steve, Gloucester isn`t in the Cotswolds, they begin at Witcombe, The Portway, Upton Hill and Horsepools Hill. Gloucester is in the Severn Vale and should be proud of that.”
by Steve, Gloucester
Sunday, October 04 2009, 12:42PM
“If we came fifth why build a motorway service station to spoil it then?The way we are heading we will be last”