COVID-19 UK Tourism Consumer Tracker Survey (Wales profile): 15 June to 10 July 2020

Consumer sentiment tracking survey aiming to understand confidence, intent and barriers to take overnight short breaks and holidays in the UK and Wales for weeks 5 to 8.

Key changes compared to the weeks 1 to 4 research

Comfort levels with ‘everyday’ leisure activity has increased significantly, particularly with ‘shopping in your local shopping centre’.

Confidence in taking U.K. holidays or short breaks in July, August and September is higher than in weeks 1 to 4 amongst U.K. and Wales residents.

Concerns about catching COVID-19 and opportunities to eat/drink out are now the main reasons for lack of confidence in being able to take a UK holiday or break amongst U.K. residents, replacing ‘government restrictions’.

U.K. residents’ are still likely to take fewer U.K. holidays or short breaks compared to normal but this is the less the case than in weeks 1 to 4. This is more evident amongst U.K. residents than Wales residents, although more Wales residents are now ‘in the market’ having converted from ‘don’t know’ to ‘will take about the same number of U.K. trips’.

The proportion of U.K. residents intending to take a domestic holiday this summer is significantly higher than in weeks 1 to 4, and marginally higher amongst Wales residents.

Holiday bookings amongst intenders have increased significantly, but a majority are yet to book.

The proportion of ‘older independents’ intending to take a trip to Wales this summer has increased, pre-nesters decreasing.

A significantly higher proportion of Wales winter intenders indicate they are experiencing reduced income, half of whom belong to social grades AB.

The intention to visit a ‘traditional coastal/seaside town’ on a summer trip to Wales is significantly higher than in weeks 1 to 4 (rising from 26% to 45%), whilst city or large town trips are lower. The changes in part reflect the movements in life stage representation.

Parties with ‘children, grandchildren or young adults with parents’ have higher representation in summer trips to Wales than in weeks 1 to 4.

There has been a large rise in summer intenders planning on ‘caravan/camping accommodation’.

Reports