Last minute bookings for popular holiday parks in Cornwall skyrocketed as families look to enjoy a great value getaway before the end of the school holidays.  

Bookings made between August 14 and 20 for breaks during the school summer holidays at Parkdean Resorts’ Newquay holiday park were up by a massive 89 per cent, compared with the same week last year, while bookings at Sea Acres (+44%) and Crantock Beach (+17%) have also seen major increases in the same period. 

The surges are indicative of a trend where families have been leaving it later to book their summer holiday due to a combination of factors including cost-of-living concerns, the rising price of European holidays, and cancelled foreign breaks.  

Parkdean Resorts is the UK’s leading holiday park operator with 66 holiday parks across the UK. The company has seen a 10 per cent increase in last-minute bookings nationwide, and by 28 per cent overall across its eight parks in Cornwall – Newquay, Holywell Bay, Crantock Beach, White Acres, St Minver, Sea Acres, Lizard Point and Looe Bay.  

The increase in bookings is also positive news for the local economy, which is heavily reliant on tourism. According to Parkdean Resorts’ own data, the amount people are spending while on holiday has increased by nine per cent year on year – a figure which it hopes will translate over into the hospitality and leisure businesses near Parkdean’s parks. 

Xavier Vallee, the chief customer officer at Parkdean Resorts, said: “We’ve seen a massive increase in last-minute bookings and the rising number of people looking to holiday in the UK this year provides a welcome boost to local economies in parts of the UK which are heavily reliant on tourism. 

“With so much disruption to European holidays this summer, people know they can have a hassle-free experience with us – you can load up the car and get to a park in a few hours with no baggage restrictions and no waiting around in airports. Our seaside holiday parks offer great value for money and are the perfect way to experience the natural beauty that our coastal areas have to offer. 

“The UK is still very much in love with its seaside towns, and the fact that people are actually spending more while on holiday is very positive for local businesses.”