Britain is poised for the busiest August bank holiday getaway in nearly a decade, with leisure journeys expected to peak at 19.2 million due to pent-up demand for travel. Significant traffic is anticipated towards major events such as the Leeds and Reading music festivals, particularly on Saturday, when 3.7 million getaway trips are set to occur. The RAC urges travellers to leave early to mitigate congestion, highlighting the enthusiasm for day trips among Britons.
Alice Simpson, the RAC's breakdown spokesperson, commented that 'Whether you're off to a festival, the coast or a theme park, or meeting up with friends and family elsewhere, the usual trusted advice applies: leave as early as you can to avoid the jams or be prepared to sit in some lengthy queues.' This reflects the significant uptick in travel enthusiasm that has returned post-pandemic.
Despite the surge in domestic travel, overseas visitor numbers to the UK are expected to remain 5% below pre-pandemic levels at 38.7 million. The Centre for Economics and Business Research noted that although the number of overseas visitors has increased since last year's 38 million, they are spending less per capita, indicating a cautious return to international travel.
The latest data indicates that while overseas visitors spent £31.1 billion in the UK last year, this figure is projected to rise to £32.5 billion this year. However, this is still below the pre-pandemic spending levels of £28.4 billion, illustrating a complex recovery in the tourism sector.
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