AD. The unpredictable weather last summer left a thought in people's minds across the UK. It prompted discussions at dinner tables, workplaces, and during peoples holidays themselves. With Google searches for the term 'rain' hitting a peak during July 2023, Woolacombe Bay Holiday Parks were interested to understand how their audience perceived the impact of rain on their staycations, conducting a Facebook poll to gauge reactions and preferences.
Photo by Sarah Doffman on Unsplash
Booking UK holidays poll
The poll included two key questions:
Question 1
Did the rain dampen your confidence in booking a staycation, turning to an abroad holiday instead? (YES/NO)
Question 2
If you were on a staycation this summer, did the rain impact your holiday activities? (YES/NO)
From the responses of nearly 500 participants, it was revealed that 33% of holidaymakers felt the weather discouraged them from choosing a UK staycation, opting for a sunnier foreign destination instead. Additionally, 41% acknowledged that the rainy weather had affected their holiday plans while they were away.
Despite a third of respondents expressing concerns about the weather, a substantial majority, 67%, remained confident in booking UK holidays even in the face of a rainy summer. The unusual uptick in holiday bookings for 2024 was noted, showcasing a positive outlook among holidaymakers.
Holiday bookings for 2024 have seen an unusual uptick from Woolacombe Bay
We asked Kevin Darvill, Sales and Marketing Director at Woolacombe Bay Holiday Parks, for his thoughts as to how the weather has impacted stays at their parks this summer.
“Weather considerations were on many holidaymakers’ minds this year, whether that was scorchingly uncomfortable temperatures around the Med or above average rainfall in the UK. A wetter than hoped for summer did not seem to put a damper on many families’ holidays with self-catering occupancy up 3% on last year thanks to the range of all-weather activities on our Parks, many of them included in the holiday price. Bookings for 2024 are very healthy too so it’s great that people are being optimistic for sunnier times in 2024.”
With some of the UK’s best beaches located within Devon and the draw of some amazing scenery and seaside towns, it’s clear to see why there has been consistent demand for holidays in the new year and despite the rain, the flexibility and price offered by a holiday within the UK looks set to support demand for the near year and well into the future.
