The UK is set for another record-breaking year of domestic travel with continuing Covid uncertainty affecting international trips.
Rental platform Independent Cottages has revealed that, between December 28 and January 9, it witnessed a 170 per cent increase in website traffic compared to the same period the previous year - and a 200 per cent increase in booking enquiries.
With the Omicron variant posing yet another challenge to the travel industry, and some European countries still out of bounds, many holidaymakers will be looking for an alternative getaway destination.
Data from Independent Cottages indicates that, for many, the desire for a break closer to home will prevail once again and people will continue to support the domestic travel sector through the next 12 months.
And whilst it is the summer months that are typically thought of as more popular for UK breaks, Independent Cottages is currently witnessing more bookings for the early months of this year than any other period. Interestingly, one in eight (12 per cent) of all recent bookings have been for breaks during January.
Steve Jarvis, co-founder of Independent Cottages, said: “Last summer saw huge demand for UK holidays, with demand often far exceeding supply, and everyone that I speak to in the industry agrees that 2022 will be another busy year.
"However, some holidaymakers are likely to face the same availability problems as last year if they leave it too late to book.
“Prior to coronavirus, the booking trend for UK holidays was becoming more and more last minute, but this has changed and people are booking their UK holidays well in advance.
"This is partially due to UK holidays being the only option for many during 2020/21 but also because a lot of people have since been impacted and disappointed by cancelled foreign holidays due to variants such as Omicron.”
As staycations have been the only option for many during the last two years, it is unsurprising that interest in this type of holiday remains high for 2022, and it is the Lake District that is currently the most popular destination so far this year.
Of holidays booked in the first week of 2022, eight per cent have been for this area, with the Peak District and Cotswolds following in joint second place and accounting for seven per cent of bookings each, according to Independent Cottages.
It offers a wide selection of self catering holiday accommodation from fisherman’s cottages and town houses to farm stays. With a huge range of dog friendly cottages and accommodation ideal for large group bookings, a romantic break or a family holiday, there is also a large selection of luxury properties.
The recent data from Independent Cottages suggests another positive year for the UK travel market with holidaymakers’ interest being at a record-high for the first week of the year. This, coupled with the warmer months approaching, suggests that there will be even more growth within this market in the coming months.
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