UK Self-Catering Attracts the Irish

With Ireland’s recent economic downturn during the Eurozone crisis, the purse strings have tightened when it comes to holidays. Whilst the Irish have been enjoying a flush streak over the past decade, flocking to far-flung, exotic destinations, the shores of Britain are now welcoming hundreds of them for a more modest kind of holiday. The caravan parks and holiday camps of Ireland’s closest neighbour are reaping the dividends of the Emerald Isle’s unfortunate situation…

Whilst the economic situation at home is resulting in massive cuts and job losses, the currency itself remains strong against the pound – making a British holiday seem far more attractive in bang-for-yer-buck terms than a trip to, say, fellow Eurozone sufferers Portugal.

The Welsh tourism industry has been a beneficiary of the new influx. A major ferry link between Ireland and the UK is the one that runs between Holyhead and Dun Laoghaire, on the outskirts of Dublin. Irish holidaymakers can enjoy a cheap self-catering trip to Snowdonia using one of the many caravan parks in North Wales. Greenacres holiday park in Porthmadog have reported that Irish tourism accounts for around 7% of their bookings.

By crossing the Irish Sea, there remains a pleasing sensation of going abroad (especially when greeted by the distinctive Welsh language!). For Dublin suburbanites, they’re closer to Wales than much of Ireland’s own picturesque west coast.

This trend for more traditional ‘staycations’ has developed in Britain itself. Self-catering caravanning is, without doubt, back in fashion, albeit through financial necessity rather than true choice.

There is also a strong attraction for football-lovers. Many British cities, including Liverpool, Manchester and Glasgow, have strong Irish connections, often manifested in travelling fan clubs. Irish visitors pass through North Wales to get to see their beloved Man Utd or Celtic.

The website park-resorts.com is a fantastic resource for caravan sites, serving a number of top coastal destinations in the UK. You can also find info on caravans for sale by visiting the site. So stay below budget in 2011 by visiting the UK – and happy camping!