Staycation 2021: Why Scarborough is a top summer holiday destination

This combined with inbound travel restrictions… this year is the perfect time to plan a staycation.

Scarborough is bursting with sand, sea, sea life, surfing and spectacular bays, as well as fantastic hospitality, heritage, culture and history as you’d expect in a celebrated seaside town, which will tempt travellers for a spring and summer stopover … and beyond… once government regulations start to relax.

Residents reading this already know about the award-winning hotels, brilliant B&Bs, fabulous fish and chips, delicious dining, plus the roll call of exciting entertainment over the years.

2021 is set to welcome another stellar line-up of world-class international acts at Scarborough’s Open Air Theatre, if current restrictions ease, from Lionel Richie to Lewis Capaldi, the glitz and glamour of Ru Paul’s Drag Race, and could there be a more fitting band to coast into town than the ultimate surf sensations, The Beach Boys, yes, I Can Hear Music.

But how do we get this message out to a wider and new audience?

This is the role of Welcome to Yorkshire.

It’s as much about education as it is marketing. How many first time visitors to the Scarborough area are ready to explore a little further? Just a short drive away there are abundant day trips to delight, including Filey, Whitby, Sandsend, Robin Hood’s Bay, Runswick Bay, Bridlington and Flamborough, plus fossil hunting on the dinosaur coast, as well as the stunning expanse of the North York Moors just a picturesque journey away.

There are attractions aplenty, offering excellent experiences for all ages.

Pre-pandemic tourism in Yorkshire was worth a staggering £9 billion annually to the county’s economy, with the region’s tourism and hospitality industry employing almost 225,000 people.

The coronavirus crisis has meant that this celebrated sector has been hit hard.

The short summer period that we did have in 2020 demonstrated the huge demand for domestic holidays with Yorkshire proving to be the number one destination for returning and first time visitors. This suggests that this incredible county has an opportunity to benefit again when lockdown lifts.

Many hospitality businesses are seeing a surge in bookings for the summer months and it seems that once an official announcement has been made, as to when and how we emerge from the latest lockdown, that another wave of bookings will begin. Industry information suggests it’s important that businesses keep to their pricing and continue to offer a quality product.

Remaining competitive and offering a great experience, as well as considering additional services by arranging add on elements which enhance a stay and are personalised to the guests’ interests are recommended.

The thirst for staycations will be welcomed to kick-start the tourism and hospitality industry once more and encourage visits to attractions and locations, providing what will be a much-needed financial boost to this struggling sector in critical and challenging times ahead.