With the uncertainty over foreign holidays still rife, there’s concern some Brits may be booking both a staycation in the UK and a trip abroad with the intention of cancelling one at the last minute.
Despite the government having issued its green list of countries Brits can visit, many are booking up caravan pitches in case their plans are changed by new outbreaks of coronavirus.
This is being facilitated by flexible cancellation policies designed to give holidaymakers peace of mind when booking caravan parks.
It has the potential to cause problems for sites, however, as visitors cancelling at the last minute means they may not fill all their pitches.
Caravan sites are keen to recoup some of the money lost from a year of intermittent lockdowns and a late start to the season.
Families may also find they miss out on the chance of a staycation to a group that has also planned a trip abroad and cancels at the last minute.
Michael De Jongh, chief commercial officer at bookings software provider Avvio, said: “Many holidaymakers have booked both a foreign holiday and a UK stay and our data shows they’re often holding on to both.
“If they decide at the last minute to risk a holiday abroad, a late rush of cancellations in the UK would create chaos across the whole industry.”
Caravanners are requested to give as much notice as possible if they need to cancel, so the park can offer up the pitch to another group of guests.
Full parks not only help the accommodation providers, but also other businesses throughout the local economy, ensuring they survive for summers to come.
Demand for staycations remains high and many caravan parks are nearly fully booked for the school holiday months.
The advice remains not to travel without a booking, as touring caravans are unlikely to be accommodated on a whim this season.
Photo credit: Pexels/Mew wy
