| Many areas of the UK are seeing their local | | | | caused mayhem for business and holiday |
| economies boosted by tourists choosing their | | | | travelers in April 2010. Nats - the UK's Air Traffic |
| hotels and campsites in 2010. Holidaymakers have | | | | Control Service - estimates that over 600,000 |
| unsurprisingly been feeling the pinch of the | | | | people in the United Kingdom alone were affected. |
| recession, so are looking to economize in many | | | | With uncertainty over the stability of the volcano |
| areas of their lives, including their holidays. | | | | and with many people having lost out financially, |
| You might expect traditional tourist areas of the | | | | as well as by having holidays ruined, a large |
| United Kingdom, such as Devon, Cornwall or the | | | | number seem to be playing it safe and avoiding |
| Lake District to benefit from this shift, but other | | | | further overseas travel. |
| areas are also seeing a boost to their tourist | | | | The environment is a further consideration for |
| trade. The Tourism Minister for Northern Ireland, | | | | more and more holidaymakers. Air travel is one |
| Arlene Foster, stated that tourism increased | | | | of the least environmentally friendly methods and |
| significantly in 2009 and even the first two | | | | many of those who are looking at their carbon |
| months of 2010 - some of the quietist months of | | | | footprint are opting for local campsites or hotel |
| the year leisure-wise - saw a revenue increase of | | | | accommodation. |
| £30 million. This was a 44% increase on January | | | | The increases in holidaymakers staying in the UK |
| and February of the previous year. | | | | benefit many aspects of the local economy - not |
| These increases do not seem to be all about | | | | just hotels and campsites. Restaurants, theme |
| watching the pennies though. The average spend | | | | parks and the hospitality industry as a whole are |
| on local holidays has risen over the last 12 | | | | also big winners. How long will these businesses |
| months. The Northern Ireland Tourist Board | | | | continue to enjoy this trend? Unless there are |
| (NTIB) reported a £13 increase in average | | | | further eruptions, the volcano issue will probably |
| spend per person, per trip. Similarly, you might | | | | be forgotten soon enough and when the UK |
| expect budget accommodation to see the | | | | emerges from recession, many are likely to again |
| greatest increases in bookings during a recession, | | | | feel rich enough to look abroad for their holidays. |
| but luxury hotels and boutique campsites in the | | | | Staying in the UK for conservation reasons is |
| UK are seeing similar surges in demand. | | | | likely to grow though. Many accommodation |
| It is likely that there are multiple reasons for | | | | providers will also see the potential demand that |
| United Kingdom residents to choose England, | | | | this year has brought them and decide to up their |
| Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland for their | | | | game in terms of marketing in future years, in a |
| holidays in 2010. The volcanic eruptions in Iceland | | | | bid to make sure that this year is not a one-off. |