High cost of UK trips deters families from summer breaks
New research shows that the high cost of UK trips is deterring families from taking summer breaks, with charities noting that summer is a bigger financial challenge than Christmas.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
New research from the travel trade has found that the high cost of UK trips is putting many families off taking a summer break. Charities say the summer holidays are now a bigger financial challenge than Christmas for most households, with the rising price of food, drink and attractions dampening domestic tourism.
A survey showed that 40% of families are considering a short break in the UK, compared with 28% thinking of trips overseas. But 19% said they were put off by the cost of UK visitor attractions, and 34% by the cost of food and drink during a UK trip. Separate research from Save the Children suggests one in eight families will struggle even with summer essentials such as sun cream and seasonal clothing, let alone a costly day out.
At a theme park in Hampshire, one mother described the pressure of the six-week holiday. "Trying to entertain the children, trying to feed the children, yeah it can be tricky," she said. "Lunches can cost so much when you're out as well, especially if you've got a family of four, it can add up." She said many parents find the summer more financially stressful than Christmas because it lasts six weeks rather than being compacted into a month.
The managing director of the theme park said the business was also feeling cost pressures. Electricity bills had doubled in the last year, and increases in national insurance and the national minimum wage had added another million pounds to costs. He advised families to book early and plan their day to get the best value, including arriving early and staying the full day.
A temporary VAT cut on entry fees and children's meals has lowered prices at some attractions, but the cost of living continues to cast a cloud over many summer plans.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | ITV |
|---|---|
| 40% of families are considering a short break in the UK. | |
| Electricity costs at the theme park have doubled in the last year. | |
| One in eight families will struggle with summer essentials such as sun cream and seasonal clothing. |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
ITV focused on the financial strain on families during the summer holidays, using a case study from a theme park in Hampshire. The report balanced the consumer perspective with the business viewpoint, highlighting both the struggles of parents and the cost pressures on attractions. The tone was empathetic but factual, with a clear emphasis on the contrast between the six-week summer break and the more compact Christmas period.
- “The six weeks holiday trying to entertain the children trying to feed the children yeah it can be it can be tricky.”
- “A lot of parents feel the financial pressure of summer even more than Christmas. Does that apply to you? Well it's six weeks long isn't it whereas Christmas is sort of compacted into a month.”
- “We employ a thousand people we also have since in the last five years seen increased costs electricity has only doubled the last year we had an increase in national insurance and national minimum wage last year alone that cost us another million pounds.”
Broadcast Timeline
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