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North East grows as a holiday destination

Caravan and camping parks in Northumbria say this is likely to be a record-breaking year for people taking fresh-air holidays in North East England.

Many of the 53 park businesses in the region – representing over 4000 pitches in total – report bookings at their highest level for at least a decade..

They say official figures showing that Northumbria parks currently generate around £27 million of visitor spending every year may now have to be revised upwards.

The growing popularity of the North East as a holiday destination was discussed at a recent meeting of the Northumbria branch of the British Holiday & Home Parks Association, the park industry’s official body.

Chaired by Branch Secretary Matthew Muckle of Coquetdale Holiday Park near Rothbury, members agreed that the “staycation” trend was now firmly entrenched.

Mr Muckle said that the revenue created by NE parks, based on independent economic research carried out by his association, provide a life-line for many other enterprises in the region:

“Virtually every penny of the £27 million which our parks generate benefits Northumbrian shops, pubs, cafes, visitor attractions and other tourism dependent businesses,” he said.

“Many of these are smaller family-owned concerns in rural areas, and rely to a large extent on visitor spending for their survival and for sustaining the local jobs they provide.

“Many of our members are now quietly optimistic that this year will see a rise in the present figure, not least because of the growing appeal of Northumbria for family holidays,” he added.

Coquetdale Holiday Park started life in 1967 when Matthew’s grandfather George began welcoming visitors onto the family’s farm for caravan and camping holidays.

News of its idyllic location in tranquil countryside with picture-postcard views soon spread, and enabled the park – still part of the family’s farm - to gradually expand.

Today the 25-acre park provides around 200 caravan holiday homes and luxury lodges – the majority of which are owned by families living in the North East:

“I think it’s great that so many people from the region regard their own part of the world as the best place in Britain to take a holiday!” said Matthew.

“But we couldn’t expect to have it to ourselves forever, and there’s signs that more and more families from away are now waking up to what we can offer.

“Unlike some holiday areas, Northumbria gives you space to breath – and the diversity of the region is amazing, from forests and moorlands to a wonderfully picturesque coastline.

“Now that the staycation trend is firmly embedded, I think that many holidaymakers are looking for fresh experiences, and that is our greatest strength,” he said.

Matthew manages Coquetdale Holiday Park – which is 15 miles from Morpeth on the edge of the Northumberland National Park – together with his parents Malcolm and Kathy.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Jon Boston .