Domestic holiday bookings surge as summer staycation looms

Airbnb has said that domestic bookings in the UK doubled from Monday to Tuesday this week, with more bookings made from 21-23 June than throughout the entire month of April.

The online booking operator said that more than 90% of bookings made between Monday and Wednesday this week were to "non-urban destinations". Unique spaces and homes in rural locations made up the 'Most Wish Listed' homes compiled by Brits during lockdown, of which 70% were off-grid domes, luxury cabins and glamping accommodation.

The company said the recent wish list was "entirely different" to the luxury overseas beach destinations of Bali, Greece and Brazil that dominated last year's wish list.

An Airbnb spokesperson said: "This is good news for hosts and guests. We will continue to prioritise public health through steps like our enhanced cleaning initiative as hosts welcome guests back to clean and safe stays away from the crowds and boost the UK economy."

Since the quarantine rules were introduced earlier this month, UK hotel operators reported a rise in bookings from holidaymakers looking for a ‘safe' UK holiday from July onwards, with longer breaks and rural destinations more popular than last year.

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