The fallout of Brexit, improving transport links and an expanding holiday home market are helping Cornwall to cement its position as the UK’s favourite staycation destination, said property agency Spot Blue International Property in November, adding that the county also has increasing appeal to foreign tourists.
A recent survey by a leading high street bank showed that 31 per cent of British staycationers planned to visit Cornwall this year, making the south-western county the UK’s most popular region. In addition, more than half (52 per cent) of people surveyed said they would take most or all of this year’s holiday in the UK, with 31 per cent saying they intend to spend more time in the UK than previous years. Another survey by a leading rental company revealed that 66 per cent of British people enjoyed a staycation last year, representing a 10 per cent rise compared to 2017.
“Evidence points to British people being spooked by both the weak pound, pushing up the costs associated with overseas holidays, and the fear of possible travel disruption once they can no longer travel as EU citizens,” said Mr Walker at Spot Blue International Property. “The natural response of many is to choose the safety of the UK for their annual holidays, helped by the recent warmer summers. Already a popular costal destination with famous beaches and popular towns like Padstow Newquay and St Ives, not to mention the Eden Project, Cornwall is well placed to benefit from this trend in 2019 and beyond.”
Constantly improving air access also is helping to drive tourism in Cornwall, home to the UK’s fastest growing airport. During the 2018-19 financial year, 461,000 passengers passed through Cornwall Airport Newquay, making it the fifth consecutive year of growth and best year ever for the airport. 
Key new routes launched this year include four daily services to London Heathrow, and services to London Southend, Jersey and Guernsey, and Copenhagen. New or improved routes for 2020 include Glasgow, Aberdeen, Norwich and Newcastle. These complement the airport’s existing services to other regional UK airports, as well as its popular London Gatwick and Manchester services.
In addition to domestic visitors, Cornwall is attracting a growing number of foreign tourists, with German holidaymakers comprising one of the region’s strongest growth markets. In response to this, German carrier Eurowings now connects Cornwall with four German cities, namely Berlin, Stuttgart, Dusseldorf and Frankfurt Hahn.
Off the back of all this, we predict a rise in demand for desirable accommodation, both for rentals and ownership,” continued Mr Walker. “Purpose-built, fully managed holiday communities with on-site facilities are a growing sector of the Cornish market. We are pleased to be promoting a range of boutique lodges within a holiday park near Newquay. The world-class leisure facilities there include pools, water sports activities, an inflatable aqua park, playgrounds, a Spa and beauty centre, and places to eat and drink. For investors, there is the option to enter your property into a rental scheme, delivering a seven per cent return.”
For further information about buying opportunities in Cornwall, contact:
Spot Blue International Property
Tel: +44 (0)20 8339 6036
Email: info@spotblue.com
Website: www.spotblue.com
