Are Brits turning their backs on foreign holidays?

Icelandic ash clouds, high euro rate, Middle East unrest and fine settled weather have all combined to give the 2011 holiday season in major UK destinations such as Cornwall a major boost.

Penzance-based West Cornwall Cottage Holidays believes a range of factors are putting many people off heading abroad this year, leaving them instead to opt for a UK holiday and in particular Cornwall – borne out by the fact that booking figures for the 2011 season at the company have spiraled over the past 6 months.

Austyn Hallworth – MD at West Cornwall Cottage Holidays says the company has seen “consistent, double digit” enquiry and booking levels since early January – a situation that has continued throughout the first half of the year.

“January started extremely well with significantly increased booking levels compared to recent years. We are waiting to see if this spike levels off but it appears to be continuous with the net result being that 2011 could be one of the best seasons since the start of the recession.

“From talking to people making the bookings, the same themes keep cropping up as to why they have opted for a Cornish holiday – high euro rate, airport delays experienced last year, the unrest in the Middle East and the fact that the UK has been enjoying the warmest spring since records began.

“If as a destination we can give them a great experience combined with what we hope will at last be a good summer, then there is every chance that this will have an extremely positive knock on for the 2012 season as well,” said Austyn.

Malcolm Bell of Visit Cornwall said the feedback from businesses such as West Cornwall Cottage Holidays was extremely encouraging for the 2011 season.

“The fact Cornwall has won the title of Favourite UK Holiday Destination two years running has had a very positive impact not just with UK tourists but overseas visitors as well.

“The type of feedback that West Cornwall Cottage Holidays is getting in terms of the reasons why people are opting for a Cornish holiday is extremely valuable and it goes to show the quality of the offering that we are able to provide. As Austyn says, if we can give visitors a great holiday experience combined with a good weather year then this really will bode well in terms of repeat bookings for next year,” said Mr Bell.

For more information about West Cornwall Cottage Holidays, visit: westcornwallcottageholidays.com