Posh camping 'is taking off'

As the credit crunch takes it toll holidaymakers are becoming more creative with their holidaying habits in a bid to save money.

According to the Association of British Travel Agents (Abta) there has been an increase in the number of holidaymakers who are becoming happy campers in a bid to save their pennies/

The organisation noted that posh campsites in particular are getting more popular as people try and compromise on the down ground in the breaks.

What is more, a survey of 2,000 people conducted by Opinium Research for travelsupermarket.com recently revealed that 77 per cent of people see price as the overriding factor in their choice of holiday destination, while location came a close second with 76 per cent of the vote.

Another survey conducted by Abta found that over 80 per cent of holidaymakers wanted to holiday abroad again next year.

Furthermore, the survey found that 83 per cent of those that have been on a recent overseas holiday are planning to take another one in the next 12 months and another 47 per cent will not adjust their travel plans because of the economic situation. However, 24 per cent are still undecided.

On the flip side, 35 per cent revealed that the current economic situation will affect the destination they go to. As the Euro has been very strong against sterling this year, only 46 per cent say that they were planning to holiday in Western Europe, as opposed to the 65 per cent of travellers who have visited Western Europe in 2008 and 69 per cent who visited in 2007.

Frances Tuke, spokesperson for the Abta, said: "Camping and what we call 'posh camping' have both been very popular over the last year or so.

"The kind of camping where you get semi-permanent structures with pot-belly stoves in them have been really popular, caravanning as well."

The travel expert noted that the Caravan Club has seen a "marked increase" in business over the last year, both in the UK and abroad.

He added: "The other area that's been doing very well is all-inclusive, and of course with all-inclusives you can budget up-front very well.

"You know with all-inclusives how much your holiday is going to cost from beginning to end. We've seen quite a big increase in all-inclusive holidays this year and we suspect that will continue to happen too."