- New survey indicates one in four Irish people have changed holiday plans due to worsening financial circumstances
- 13% of Irish people 'Naycationing'
- 73% say recession has led to better holiday value in Ireland
Thursday 11th of June 2011. A new survey shows the recession is continuing to have a major effect on holiday planning with 25% of respondents indicating they had changed their holiday plans due to worsening financial circumstances.
According to the survey, which was carried out by leading property website MyHome.ie, 27% of Irish people are taking their main holiday in Ireland this year, up 3% on last year, while 40% are going abroad, down from 53% in 2010. However 13% of the 2,000 people surveyed said they would be ‘naycationing’ this year i.e. not taking any holiday, up 3% on last year.
20% said they will be splitting their main holiday between Ireland and a foreign destination, up 7%, but this may indicate a growing trend of people splitting their main holiday between a short break away and a ‘staycation’ here in Ireland.
Value for money is now the main consideration for Irish holiday goers, with a massive 40% saying it’s the key factor in deciding their holiday destination, whether here or abroad. The other factors holiday goers consider are location (20%), the activities on offer and weather (both 14%) with ten per cent seeking pure relaxation.
For those holidaying in Ireland, 26% said it was due to personal financial reasons, 17% said it was to support the local economy while 16% said it was to avail of the value for money on offer. 10% said it was due to a preference for short trips while a similar number said they wanted to visit family and friends.
The weather was the main attraction for those choosing to go abroad (40%) followed by a desire for a change of scene (22%), value for money (15%), visits to family (13%) and other (9%).
Angela Keegan, Managing Director of MyHome.ie said there was some positive news in the survey for the domestic tourism sector and for those renting holiday homes.
‘First of all it is heartening to see that 17% of those who are choosing to holiday in Ireland said they were doing so in order to support the local economy. It really is wonderful to see people doing that. Seventy three per cent of those surveyed said they felt the recession had led to better value holiday pricing in Ireland while 47% believed there was better value to be had in the holiday home rental market. So there are positives for people holidaying in Ireland’ Keegan said.
According to the survey self-catering just pips hotels as the accommodation type of choice for Irish people, 34% versus 33%, while staying with family/friends 12% and camping/mobile home 5% are the other main categories.
Keegan pointed out that for those seeking houses to rent for August or looking ahead to an autumn break MyHome.ie had a wide range of choice and value.
‘For example we have a 3 bed cottage in Bundoran and a 4 bed cottage in Ventry Co. Kerry quoting €350 per week, as well as a 4 bed cottage in Kinsale Co. Cork and a luxury holiday home in Dunmore East Co. Waterford from €475 per week. The Summer hasn’t been great but late August, September and early October can often be a beautiful time of the year, so for people still looking to get away from it all for a week or two without breaking the bank, there are options’ Keegan concluded.
The second part of the holiday survey will be released next week.
ENDS.
For Further Information
Contact Kieran Garry,
Gordon MRM,
01-6650455 or 087-2368366
Note to Editor
Survey based on the responses of over 2,000 people to a detailed questionnaire on the MyHome.ie website.
