Self-catering holidays are no long a budget option but have become a "lifestyle" choice, according to a Gullane flat owner.
The growing popularity of AirBnB properties and staycations are being used to argue the case to allow a three-bedroom property in the East Lothian town to be used as a holiday let.
Felicity Rabbitte has applied for a retrospective change of use for the flat, in Marine House, which lies on Main Street.
And she has pointed to recent surveys of tourists both visiting East Lothian and across Scotland to make her case.
Pointing to an AirBnB study which estimated its listings alone generated 1.6million visitors in 2018 averaging 52 visitors a year for every short term let, she said that while the Gullane property did not use their platform the evidence showed a change in attitudes to self-catering.
She said: "Self catering is not a budget thing now – it’s much more about a lifestyle trip – people want their own private space and clients want to be able to work in their flats.
"People are now more particular. It’s about lifestyle, cooking, and private and flexible space."
And in her statement applying for the change of use for the flat, she said a survey commissioned by East Lothian Council had revealed that half of all overnight visitors to the county stayed in caravan parks or rented flats or houses.
She said recent surveys of visitors to East Lothian highlighted the need for more flexible accommodation to encourage them to stay.
She said: "It’s about the tourism industry – driving and growing it, people spending money in the economy.
"Hotels cannot support the volume of people visiting the area. There has to be more accommodation if tourism is going to continue to grow and it’s great for the local economy."
The application for change of use is being considered by officers and available to view on the council's planning portal.
