[N]ew search data from the Expedia group, the leading online travel company, has revealed a healthy rise in interest from international visitors looking to make a trip to the Lake District and Cumbria this summer.
Searches early this year showed strong double-digit growth from travellers looking to holiday in Lake District and Cumbria in July and August, when compared to the same period last year.
Searches made in the US for July and August showed a rise of almost 55% year-on-year for travel in the Lake District and Cumbria. Searches from Hong Kong, Canada and Australia showed the same double-digit growth with an increase of more than 35%, 25% and around 25%, respectively.
The data shows visitors are seeking to stay longer, with the amount they choose to spend on their room rising by nearly 5% year-on-year. The figures also showed that mobile searches for visits to the Lake District and Cumbria – app and mobile web – rose almost 70% when compared to the same period last year.
Krishan Kadodwala, Expedia’s Director of market management for the UK & Ireland, said: “Searches for the Lake District and Cumbria are showing encouraging signs of growth year-on-year, which is obviously great news for hoteliers and tourism in the region.
“Lake Windemere, the region’s mountains and fells and quaint villages peppered with history and culture are no doubt helping fuel the rise, and we could see further interest following the Lake District’s latest win – gaining Unesco World Heritage status.
“It’s also great to see increased interest from the US – a particularly valuable market that presents a tremendous opportunity for hoteliers and regional tourism in general, given they tend to book their trip further in advance, are much less likely to cancel, stay longer and spend more when here.”
