Half-term bookings ‘look slow’ says Devon tourism boss

The UK tourism market may suffer from people choosing to holiday abroad this summer after two years of travel restrictions, a tourism boss says.

Visit Devon said bookings for February half-term were “looking slow”.

It said soaring fuel and energy costs might have an impact on the industry.

Sally Everton, head of Visit Devon, said “a number of people we fear have made double-bookings, i.e. they’ve booked to go abroad and they’ve also booked a holiday down here”.

Ms Everton said: “We had the green shoots of positivity in October, only to be dashed by Omicron, and that is still filtering on.

“And there are other obstacles that have been thrown in our way like the soaring cost of energy prices and fuel.”

Ms Everton said: “There will be families for example with their children who will come down on a bucket and spade holiday to Torbay or to somewhere like that, and then look at the fuel costs.

“Whereas before it might have cost £60 to fill up the tank with petrol, it is now £85.”

Ms Everton said: “People thrive on sunshine sadly and my biggest concern still is that people will jump on an aeroplane and shoot off for a holiday in Spain or Portugal.

“I’m still hopeful we’ll have a third year of staycation but I don’t think it will be as strong as the last two years.”