If you’re not planning to go on vacation this summer due to money concerns – you aren’t alone. A recent survey by finance giant ING Direct has found that 40% of Britons are foregoing their annual summer trips in an attempt to save money. The exact figures show that 39%, or 17.7 million people are placing their priority on keeping the checkbook balanced, rather than on sunning this summer.
Vacationing at Home
The poll found that, out of this 39%, 9 out of 10 of them would have taken their vacation in England. This is obviously bad news for the tourism industry and for the economy in general.
However, one area of the tourism industry is looking up – and that’s the camping industry. Camp sites are seeing a boom in bookings, with more people signing up than have since the 1950s.
Get the Tent Out
As the ING Direct spokesman Richard Doe explained, “It’s clear that a tough economic climate is causing consumers to pull off a very difficult balancing act – cutting down on debt while dealing with rising prices. So it’s not surprising that the summer holiday is often being sacrificed. However, it is certainly a good thing that consumers are adopting a more sensible approach to holiday planning, saving in advance for their trips, rather than entirely relying on the plastic.”
Part of the irony of the staycation is that many are making their camping grounds as luxurious as possible. A study of professionals by insurer Hiscox has found that many are dragging their airbeds, china, and fancy tents to their camping trips. Certainly, portable toilets, electrical outlets, refrigerators and more are appearing on the camping scene as well.