More Brits expected to staycation in 2012

An increasing number of UK holidaymakers will take a break in Britain next year, says a new report.

Increasing pressure on family budgets, thanks in part to rising fuel costs and energy prices, are expected to result in more people spending their holiday leave in the UK next year. A study carried out by holiday lettings firm cottages4you, claims that a whopping 91 per cent of Brits will take a break in the UK in 2012 – up 23 per cent on this year.

Cornwall was picked out by respondents as the top destination for holidaymakers, followed by Scotland in second place and the Lake District in third. The meres and fells of the Lake District were also picked out by those surveyed as the top attraction in Britain.

Nick Rudge, spokesman for cottages4you, said: "For many reasons, the staycation boom clearly shows no sign of relenting in 2012. We have some of the world's most beautiful landscapes and scenery right on our doorstep, with our study reinforcing that we simply love to holiday at home.

"As well as the current economic worries, the findings also revealed that our love of the great outdoors is one of our biggest motivations to staycation," he added.

Figures released last month highlighted the positive effect of the staycation trend in Scotland. During the first six months of 2011 the number of domestic visits to the country increased by 6 per cent to 5.9 million.