Half of all holidaymakers have altered their travel plans owing to rising costs and global uncertainty based on a poll of 2,000 UK holidaymakers published this week by Enterprise Mobility. With more people expected to holiday in the South-West of England than Spain this summer, the debate over where people should spend their money is firmly back on the agenda.
When it came to naming the most popular UK road-trip destinations, the survey put the Scottish Highlands, the Lake District and Cornwall at the top of the list with Devon absent from the top three. It’s a result that is sure to reignite one of Britain’s longest running debates: Devon vs Cornwall.
At Burgh Island, the team are struggling to understand this view. Devon beats Cornwall on the numbers that matter most to holidaymakers: more Blue Flag beaches (13 vs 9), two National Parks to Cornwall’s none, two distinct coastlines, and far less crowding at peak season in spots like Salcombe and Woolacombe compared with Padstow or St Ives.
Giles Fuchs, Co-Owner and CEO of Burgh Island Hotel, can comment on why Devon deserves a closer look this summer, and what the Cornwall-vs-Devon rivalry really tells us about the UK staycation market.
Giles can comment on:
- Why Devon’s lower profile in surveys like this does not reflect the quality of the experience on offer, and what drives Cornwall’s stronger “brand recognition”
- How overcrowding at Cornwall’s towns is pushing discerning holidaymakers towards Devon’s calmer alternatives this summer
- What rising flight costs and airport disruption mean for demand at distinctive, experience-led UK destinations like South Devon
- Why heritage, space, and accessibility, not just headline visitor numbers, should be seen as the best measure of a successful UK staycation county
- Whether the “Cornwall vs Devon” rivalry is really a rivalry at all, or two very different holiday experiences being unfairly compared
- What it will take for Devon to close the gap with Cornwall in visitor sentiment over the next few years
