Norfolk’s tourist businesses are set to benefit from a ‘staycation windfall’ worth £896 million as holidaymakers opt to visit UK destinations this year, according to a report from Barclays.
The county is one of a series of 12 tourist areas– which include the Lake District, Devon and Yorkshire – which will gain from the 23 million UK holidays which the British are expected to make this year and which should be worth £31 billion to the economy. Small independent businesses and restaurants are set to be major beneficiaries of the trend. The research shows that half of British holidaymakers are planning trips to explore areas in the UK with lots of small independent businesses and Norfolk tourist hot spots should benefit as holidaymakers head to coastal and rural beauty sites.
Glen Webster, business banking at Barclays, Norfolk, said: “We’ve been supporting thousands of hospitality and tourism businesses throughout the pandemic, signposting them to grants, helping them with marketing their services even when the shutters have been down, and providing millions of pounds worth of funds through the Government lending schemes.
“Many small businesses have been adapting their premises to get ready to meet the needs of holidaymakers this summer. The investments that they have made will hopefully be rewarded as millions of Brits support the nation’s hotels, restaurants and shops, providing local economies with a welcome boost. The same can be said for Norfolk, which has always been a popular destination for tourists, with its stretching coastline, beautiful countryside, nature reserves and picturesque market towns.”
