More people set to spend Christmas in caravans to create special memories, says holiday boss

Many more people are likely to tuck into their turkey in a caravan this Christmas, says marketing director at Park Leisure Lisa Williams.
Lisa Williams, holiday sales and marketing director at Park Leisure, pictured at Chantry holiday park near LeyburnLisa Williams, holiday sales and marketing director at Park Leisure, pictured at Chantry holiday park near Leyburn
Lisa Williams, holiday sales and marketing director at Park Leisure, pictured at Chantry holiday park near Leyburn

With people still wanting to make it a special day, but unable to have a family party, she believes many will head to their holiday home instead.

"I think people will create very different memories this year, but everyone wants to have a memorable Christmas because it has been such a tough year," she said.

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"I think a lot of people are thinking they are not going to have a big family get together so rather than staring at the same four walls they are going to try and get out.

Holiday home sales have seen a shift to younger buyers in their 50s, says Lisa Williams from Park LeisureHoliday home sales have seen a shift to younger buyers in their 50s, says Lisa Williams from Park Leisure
Holiday home sales have seen a shift to younger buyers in their 50s, says Lisa Williams from Park Leisure

"They can start the roast and then have a walk down by the beach."

Caravan park owner Park Leisure has 11 sites in the UK, including three in Yorkshire; Littondale, where people can rent a short-stay holiday home, and the Chantry and Yorkshire Dales parks, which are for holiday home owners only.

All 11 saw a large leap in bookings over the summer, with Littondale topping the list at up 91 per cent year-on-year, as people shunned hotels, especially in city centres.

Staying in a caravan can be completely contactless.

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"The keys are left in the holiday home - you can drop the keys off at the end in a box. If you want to, you can see nobody," added Ms Williams.

Holiday home sales, which have increased by 47 per cent across all of Park Leisure's locations, has also seen a shift in demographics with customers getting younger.

Instead of retirees aged 60 to 65, people in their mid 50s, as well as younger families are deciding now is the time to buy.

She said: "I think people want to make the most of what they have right here, right now."

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VisitBritain has been running a consumer tracker since May to track people’s desire to take trips in the UK and abroad.

The latest figures show that the top destination is still the countryside or a village and holidaymakers want to spend time outdoors.

As tougher restrictions come in, 59 per cent of those surveyed feel “the worst is still to come” in relation to Covid-19, the highest proportion so far.

Only nine per cent think “the worst has passed”. The majority (58 per cent) don’t believe life will “return close to normal” before June next year - with a fifth not expecting their lives to return to something close to normal until at least 2022.

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