Golden Night for Lancashire
BRITS GET INTO THE JUBILEE SPIRIT WITH 4 MILLION
TAKING A BREAK IN THE UK
4 million Brits (8 per cent of the adult population) plan to make the most of the forthcoming double bank holiday weekend by taking at least one overnight stay in the UK, with 3.4 million people (7 per cent) planning to take that trip in England, according to VisitEngland’s Diamond Jubilee Trip Tracker. This is likely to generate some £700million in tourism spend for the UK economy, just under £600million of which will be spent in England.
Around 6 million Brits (12 per cent of the population) are currently undecided about taking an overnight trip this weekend. Some prefer to make last-minute decisions, whilst others are waiting on the weather forecast.
Of those still to make a decision, some are evidently waiting for inspiration, with 17 per cent unsure where they would like to go, and 15 per cent waiting on deals or special offers.
James Berresford, VisitEngland’s Chief Executive, commented:
“Obviously there are a lot of people still undecided about their plans for this weekend, and this ties in with the increasing trend we have seen for last-minute booking. Anyone looking for inspiration or waiting for a special offer should check out www.great2012offers.com, for thousands of great deals on accommodation, attractions, travel, meals out and more across England – this is a weekend you won’t want to miss!”
The national tourist board also revealed that Brits are getting into the Diamond Jubilee spirit, with 14.5 million people (29 per cent of the adult population) planning to take part in some sort of related activity, such as local street parties, the official celebrations in and around London, or other Jubilee events around the country.
Visiting friends and family is the most common activity planned for the long weekend, with 30 per cent of Brits planning a trip for this purpose. 18 per cent will enjoy going out for a meal, 15 per cent are looking forward to taking part in outdoor leisure activities such as walking and a further 15 per cent are planning general days out.
Mr Berresford continued:
“The double bank holiday is a great opportunity to get out for a day trip or short break and discover what England has to offer, and it’s great to see that so many Brits are planning to do just that. The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee will kick off the summer in Royal style and showcase our heritage to the world. Whether it’s cheering on a winner at the Epsom Derby, grabbing a spot by the riverside to watch the spectacular Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant, or simply getting to know your neighbours over tea and Victoria Sponge at a local street party – there is no better time to take a break at home!”
Only 2 per cent of the population plan to take a trip abroad during the Diamond Jubilee weekend, representing 1.2 million trips.
For ideas and inspiration on how to get the best out of the Diamond Jubilee weekend in England, visit: www.visitengland.com.
-Ends-
Notes to Editors:
- VisitEngland commissions online omnibus surveys periodically in order to collect data on the number of GB consumers who plan to take an overnight trip at key times throughout the year.
- In this Diamond Jubilee edition, the survey was carried out on an online omnibus by TNS, with a representative sample of 1246 adults aged 16 and over in Great Britain.
- The fieldwork for the survey took place between the 24th and 28th May 2012.
- Trip volumes are based on an adult (16+) population of 49.2m (Office for National Statistics).
- Total trip value is calculated using the average ‘spend per trip’ figures from 2011 for the UK (£179) and England (£172) – see here for more info: http://www.visitengland.org/Images/Headline%20summary%20GBTS%202011_tcm30-32636.pdf
- For the full report, visit: http://www.visitengland.org/Images/Diamond%20Jubilee%20Trip%20Tracker_tcm30-32961.pdf
For more information contact:
Sarah Long, Head of Corporate Communications Tel: 020 7578 1452, Email [email protected] www.visitengland.org
Emma White, Corporate Communications Executive Tel 020 7578 1471, Email: [email protected] www.visitengland.org
About VisitEngland
- VisitEngland is the country’s national tourist board. We work in partnership with the industry to develop the visitor experience across England, plan national tourism strategy, grow the value of tourism in England and provide advocacy for the industry and our visitors
- Our work is underpinned by robust research and customer insights. You can access the latest in-depth market intelligence and statistics on www.visitengland.org/insight-statistics
About England
- England is a unique destination and a real powerhouse in global tourism. It represents 84 per cent of the total UK visitor economy, is worth £97 billion, and supports in excess of 2 million jobs
- More information can be found on www.enjoyengland.com and www.visitengland.org