Potential staycation boom for Lancashire's leisure industry

Adam Parton, partner at Lancashire-based chartered accountants and business advisors MHA Moore and Smalley, said if lockdown measures continue to ease, there will be opportunities for leisure facilities which can offer safe holiday destinations to British tourists.

Adam, an adviser to tourism businesses across the region, believes holiday and caravan parks could potentially benefit thanks to the amount of green space available at such destinations and the relative lack of shared spaces.

He also expects a resurgence in ‘glamping’, tent and cottage holidays for the same reasons.

However, Adam warns that to attract customers, these destinations will need to go out of their way to showcase how they are ensuring visitor safety – including such methods as a cleanliness rating.

He said: “The leisure industry is planning for an easing in the lockdown rules to allow for UK holidays to take place, possibly from July 4.

“There is clearly some uncertainty over how this year will play out, but we are certainly expecting domestic tourism to bounce back strongly in 2021, so the next few months will be a way for the sector to at least dip its toes in the water and begin to understand what works and what doesn’t.

“Organisations including the British Holiday Home Parks Association are lobbying the Government hard to illustrate the safe options for holidaymakers within the UK, pointing out that outdoor activities are already regarded as safer – ideal for holiday parks, caravans and camping facilities.

“These kinds of destinations may be able to illustrate safe reopening quicker than hotels, for instance.

"A lot will depend on how they can create and maintain social distancing and how this will affect communal areas and the safe functioning of onsite facilities such as shops, cafes and washrooms.”