NEW SURVEY INDICATES OVER 20% OF IRISH PEOPLE HAVE CHANGED HOLIDAY PLANS DUE TO WORSENING FINANCIAL CIRCUMSTANCES
39% GOING ABROAD THIS YEAR – DOWN FROM 53% IN 2010
78% SAY BETTER VALUE NOW AVAILABLE ON IRISH HOLIDAYS
Friday 1st June 2012.
A major new survey shows the recession is continuing to have a major effect on Irish people’s holiday plans with over 20% of respondents claiming they have changed their holiday plans due to a deterioration in their personal financial circumstances.
According to the survey, which was carried out by leading property website MyHome.ie, 28% of Irish people are taking their main holiday in Ireland this year, while 39% are going abroad, down from 53% just two years ago. However just nine per cent of the 2,000 people surveyed said they would not be taking any vacation this year, down from 13% last year.
Twenty four per cent said they will be splitting their main holiday between Ireland and a foreign destination, up 4% on last year. This may be due to people taking in the upcoming Euro Soccer Championships in Poland as well as a growing trend of people splitting their main holiday between a short break away and a break here in Ireland.
Value for money continues to be the main consideration for Irish holiday goers, with over 37% saying it’s the key factor in deciding their holiday destination, whether here or abroad. The other factors holiday goers consider are location (21%), the weather (16%) the activities on offer (14%) with nine per cent seeking pure relaxation.
Price awareness is especially to the fore for those opting for a ‘staycation’. Twenty two per cent of this group said they were holidaying here due to personal financial reasons, 18% said it was to avail of the value for money offers available in Ireland and 15% said it was to support the local economy. Eleven per cent said it was due to a preference for short trips while a similar number said they wanted to visit family and friends.
Angela Keegan, Managing Director of MyHome.ie said there were positives in the survey for the domestic tourism sector, especially for those renting holiday homes here.
‘Overall 78% of those surveyed said they believed there was now better value available for holidays in Ireland and almost two thirds said there was better value for holiday home rental. The survey shows that while a significant group are holidaying here rather than abroad due to financial pressures, 18% are doing so to avail of the value on offer and 15% to support the domestic economy which is wonderful to see. There is a huge range of properties available out there and people can check them out by logging onto our website’ Keegan said.
The weather was the main attraction for those choosing to go abroad (49%) followed by a desire for a change of scene (23%) and visits to family (13%) and other (9%). Nine per cent said it was to avail of better value abroad, but this is down from 15% last year.
According to the survey self-catering just pips hotels as the accommodation type of choice for Irish people, 36% versus 35%, while staying with family/friends and camping/mobile home are the other main categories.
The main reasons people opted for self catering accommodations were cost (33%), facilities (31%), creating a home from home (25%) and location (5%)..
Keegan pointed out that for those seeking houses to rent for the Summer months or looking ahead to an autumn break, MyHome.ie has over 4,000 properties available to choose from.
‘For example we have an old converted schoolhouse in Leap, West Cork from €400 pw, a modern holiday home in Liscannor Co Clare from €450 per week, another in Carraroe Co Galway from €425 pw and a delightful thatched cottage in Knockroghery in Co Roscommon from €300 pw. There are properties to suit families and groups of all sizes and budgets and I would urge people to log on and check out what’s on offer. It could be the start of a memorable holiday’ Keegan concluded.
The second part of the holiday survey will be released next week.
ENDS.
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For Further Information
Contact Kieran Garry,
Gordon MRM,
01-6650455 or 087-2368366
Note to Editor
Survey based on the responses of 2,170 people. Survey carried out between 18th and 22nd of May.
