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CARAVAN and camping sites across the country are facing a busy summer as holiday-makers swap foreign vacations for trips closer to home.

Park owners are experiencing a boost in the number of bookings they are taking for the summer season.

Many are attributing the rise to an increasing number of people opting to holiday at home to save money.

Caravan parks also reported full houses over the Easter holiday, with visitors coming from across the country for a long break.

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Blue skies and the credit crunch appear to have given the Welsh tourist industry a welcome kick start, say operators.

As the Easter holidays come to an end, Pembrokeshire Tourism, which represents 500 holiday businesses said it had seen a "huge upsurge" in late bookings.

North Wales Tourism said better than forecast weather over the bank holidays helped boost trade.

The Caravan Club also said it has seen a 40% increase in bookings this year.

A key feature that also seems to have emerged in the rise in the use of the internet to grab late bookings.

Barry Chapman, manager of the Hotel Plas Hyfryd at Narbeth in Pembrokeshire said: "Although traditionally its never a really busy time of year for us, this year broke the mould.

"With leisure guests up by over 50% and a number of guest booking for the whole three night period, we are delighted with the results of our new on line marketing campaign."

Nick Evans, chairman of Pembrokeshire Tourism added: "It's encouraging to see more market confidence from a high percentage of our members across the tourism spectrum."

Sunshine

Mr Evans counterpart at North Wales Tourism, Chris Jackson, was a little more cautious, but agreed that there had been a positive start to the tourism season.

"Operators are reasonably happy. It's the start of the season in north Wales and we have benefitted from good weather - much better than the weather forecasted," said Mr Jackson.

"There has been some last minute bookings and the visitor attractions have done rather well."

But Mr Jackson said his members were "not throwing their hats in the air" just yet.

He said many were hoping that the recession would see more people looking to holiday closer to home, and that the industry was "looking ahead cautiously".

One part of the tourism sector that definitely appears to have benefitted is the caravan park operator.

'Value'

According to The Caravan Club, which owns and operates 200 sites across Britain, it has seen bookings for 2009 already up by 40%.

It said its network of parks in Wales were at 90% occupancy for the Easter holidays.

"I think people in the current climate are looking where they get real value and are making the most of their own time," said the club's spokeswoman Fiona Bewers.

"New families are taking up caravanning as a fun option, it gives them flexibility to go when and where they want."

Source: BBC

CAMPSITES on the coast will be packed with families wanting to escape financial woes and looking for a cheap holiday this Easter long weekend.

As the financial crisis continues to bite and national unemployment hits 5.7 per cent, Tourism NSW says people are leaning away from hotels and overseas travel this year and opting for coastal camping and caravan holidays, with most places booked out.

"Times are tough and many people are choosing to holiday close to home and that is great for local tourism operators, the local economy and for local jobs," said the NSW Minister for Tourism, Jodi McKay.

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HOPES are high that the Easter holidays will turn out to be a huge money-spinner for Flintshire's caravan parks.
Parks across the county have been expecting to benefit from a massive surge in demand, as tourists with one eye on the financial climate, look to domestic breaks in a bid to trim costs.

Flintshire Council's executive member for regeneration and tourism, Cllr Mel Higham said the county was well prepared to welcome an influx of holidaygoers eager to avoid the strong Euro and take advantage of the attractions on offer here.

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The roads and ports were packed yesterday as millions began the bank holiday weekend early.

It was thought to be the busiest day on the roads this year, with ten million heading away for the weekend, a 13 per cent rise on last year, according to the AA. The RAC is predicting a third more short trips than this time last year, while British resorts are ready for a bumper Easter as families opt for value breaks in this country over expensive foreign trips.

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WALES’ caravan parks could benefit from a massive 60% surge in demand over the Easter holidays as tourists opt for domestic breaks to avoid the strong euro.

With a less than favourable weather forecast over the next few days, tourism leaders here are divided over the prospects for the Easter break, but all are agreed the biggest winner will be the caravanning sector.

With the pound continuing to struggle against the euro – yesterday one euro cost 90p compared to December 2004 when it was worth just 69p – holidaymakers are looking to cut back on the costs of travel.

The Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) has said the economic crisis means that the 3% to 4% growth the foreign holidays market traditionally achieves in favourable economic circumstances is unlikely to materialise this year.

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Easter is the busiest motoring weekend of the year and the AA reckon that this year a record 10 million drivers will be on the roads.

Due to economic conditions we are having more holidays in the UK and Easter bookings at the Caravan Club sites have increased on last year. If you’re lucky enough to have booked into a site, consider travelling at off-peak times and take some provisions with you.

There are some glimmers of hope though. The Highways Agency (HA) will suspend 73% of the roadworks on motorways and A-roads, and you can plan your journey with up-to-the-minute info at the AA or HA sites, or by listening to your local radio station.

The weather forecast is good compared to last Easter when snow caused road problems, so the roads should keep moving. Meanwhile, to keep your own van on the move check the tyres for cracks and ensure the pressures are correct.

Source: caravanmagazine.co.uk

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