National Trust Reports The Rise Of The Daycation
Released on: March 22, 2011, 06:56 am
Author:
National Trust
Industry:
Environment
New National Trust research* reveals that the number of Brits
taking a two-week holiday has decreased by 18% over the past five years
with 51% of Brits not planning to take a fortnight’s holiday in 2011.
The study reveals a new trend for Brits taking multiple single day holidays
throughout the year, as opposed to the traditional two-week break their parents
worked towards.
Over a quarter (27%) of Brits are planning to take at least ten single days holiday
- or ‘daycations’ - this year and a further 36% will take between five and ten. 48%
of those polled cited the cost of a fortnight’s holiday as the main reason for not
taking two weeks off work, whereas one in 12 hard-working employees blamed the
inability to switch off from the job.
For time-poor Brits the growing daycations trend
means they can split their time into smaller and more frequent holidays or days off
and 42% of those polled cited this as the reason for favouring day trips. A further
64% said the daycation was a cheaper alternative to the traditional holiday and 57%
believe they're a lot less hassle.
Tony Berry, visitor experience director of the National Trust, commented: "Our
research reveals an interesting trend for Brits taking multiple single days off
work, making the most of their spare time - and enjoying these daycations, as we’ve
coined them. Our visitor numbers for 2009-2010 also reflect this with over 17
million people enjoying our houses and gardens,
and millions more exploring the swathes of outdoor spaces we care for."
Despite those in fulltime employment having 28 days holiday on average each year**,
the research also revealed that 34% of employees are unable to switch off from work
at all during their time off and taking shorter breaks and single days off help them
unwind as they don’t dread work piling up when they return.
The study found that Brits in the East of England are most likely to take a
daycation with 32% planning to take more than ten single days off from work this
year; this is followed by those in the South West and North West (30% in each
region). The Welsh were revealed as the country’s top workaholics with 21% saying
they do not switch off from the job - even on their days off - Londoners and those
in the East of England ran a close joint second with 20%.
With 32 million Brits intending to take a day trip this year, London and South East
England has been named the top daycation hot spot in the UK with sites such as the
South Downs appealing to visitors who want to escape the stresses and strains of
work-life. South West England and Yorkshire and the North East were next on the daycation to do list with 41% and 40% of the vote respectively.
- ends -
Notes to editors
* National Trust used the independent online research company Fly Research who
surveyed 2,066 office workers from across the UK, aged 18 and over, between the 20
and 24 January 2011
** Source: guardian.co.uk, Sunday 5 December 2010
About National Trust:
The National Trust cares for over 300 of England, Wales and Northern Ireland’s
greatest historic houses and gardens, 1,000 km of coastline and vast swathes of
Britain's most beautiful countryside. From former workers' cottages to the most
iconic stately homes, and from mines and mills to theatres and inns, the stories of
people and their heritage are at the heart of everything it does. People of all ages
- individuals, schools and communities - get involved each year with events and
working holidays and over 56,000 volunteers help to bring the properties alive for
the Trust's 3.8 million members and many more million visitors.
For more information please contact:
Laura Appleby
The National Trust
Heelis
Kemble Drive
Swindon
Wiltshire
SN2 2NA
01793 817780
www.nationaltrust.org.uk
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