The chairman of an award-winning Shrewsbury-based leisure company is predicting another staycationing boom in the UK in 2022 due to the continuing global pandemic.
Tony Bywater, from Salop Leisure, which also has sales centres in Machynlleth and Stourport-on-Severn, believes the demand for staycationing will be even greater in the new year, as British people will be reluctant to travel abroad.
In addition to running one of the UK’s most successful caravan and motorhome dealerships, Salop Leisure also owns the Love2Stay resort and adventure centre and Love Plants specialist plants centre in Shrewsbury and caravan holiday home and touring parks across Mid Wales and Shropshire.
Due to staycationing this year, caravan and motorhome sales have boomed at Salop Leisure as more first-time buyers opted to invest in holidays in the UK for the foreseeable future.
One of the biggest challenges the company faced was obtaining enough stock, as caravan manufacturers struggled to keep up with demand.
Many caravan holiday home parks across Mid Wales and the Heart of England reported a huge demand for available pitches, with many reporting a record year.
Having devoted more than 50 years of his life to the caravan and motorhome industry, Mr Bywater has experienced many economic highs and lows and is well placed to offer an opinion on future business prospects.
“I think the business opportunities in 2022 are going to be even greater for our industry,” he said. “More people will want to stay in the UK in the next year and demand for touring caravans, motorhomes and caravan holiday homes will be at record levels.
“Demand for holiday locations in the Heart of England and Mid Wales is also going to be massive, leading to a possible shortage of vacant pitches on caravan parks. There is also a chance that the supply of new caravans might not meet demand.
“We look forward to offering help and advice to anyone wishing to buy a touring caravan, motorhome or caravan holiday home in the new year. We shall we open for business on January 2.”
