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Bookings for foreign holidays soar by 150 per cent
Jonathan Prynn, Consumer Affairs Editor5 Sep 2008
Sun-starved Britons who holidayed at home this year to help save the planet and ease the credit crunch are now rushing to book overseas trips.
Travel firms say there has been a huge "never again" backlash after a rain-drenched August - during which thousands of families decided not to fly to cut their carbon footprint.
Among those holidaying in Britain were Gordon Brown, who went to Southwold in Suffolk, and David Cameron, who stayed in Padstow, Cornwall.
Bookings for the Mediterranean and further afield in late autumn and next summer have soared by up to 150 per cent, operators say. Many customers booked as soon as they got home from this year's summer trip.
Jonathan White, managing director of VFB Holidays, said: "We've spoken to lots of people who have sat through the wet weather here. Their view is simple: blow the recession: We need to get away somewhere warm.
"The problem has been accommodating these last-minute bookings when capacity has been cut back.
"At the same time, we've already opened our 2009 bookings and are hearing from people who've returned from rain-soaked UK holidays vowing 'never again'. Southern France - Provence, Languedoc, the Atlantic coast - is particularly strong."
Laurence Hicks, managing director of Southwark's Wendy Wu Tours, added: "August has been one of our best months ever and bookings were up 150 per cent compared with the same month last year.
"Some of this can be attributed to media coverage around the Beijing Olympics and the feelgood factor around Team GB, but I believe that with the poor weather this summer, people are looking to get away and need to have something planned."
Jane Chapman, product manager at Wandsworth-based Coastline Villas, said: "People are obviously enjoying the thought of sunny climes to brighten up their grey days.
"Year-on-year, our bookings are up 80 per cent in the last four weeks. Majorca is a particular favourite. September bookings in Corsica have picked up and we have very little space left to sell.
"It seems to be global wetting rather than global warming."
Although the Met Office says summer was only the 10th wettest on record, August was particularly gloomy, with about a third less sunshine-than normal. The 30C barrier was breached only twice.
Official figures are not yet in, but most British "bucket-and-spade" resorts said visitor numbers were way up on recent years.
According to lastminute.com. bookings to Newquay in Cornwall were 125 per cent higher, while Brighton was up 70 per cent. Managing director John Bevan said: "The UK has definitely benefited from the credit crunch with many customers deciding to chance the weather and holiday at home. It remains to be seen whether people will be so keen to stay in the UK next year."
A spokeswoman for national tourism agency VisitBritain was quick to leap to the defence of the great British holiday. "I don't think anyone considering a holiday here is unaware that Britain has changeable weather. It is an all-weather destination-with a huge range of indoor attractions. A good holiday experience does not depend on constant sunshine. Without the rain we would not have the wonderful countryside and rolling green hills that everyone loves."
