Tourists swap the Costas for camping

Aug 5 2008 by Jon Tunney, The Journal

HOLIDAYMAKERS are turning their backs on foreign jaunts and setting up camp in the North East.

Caravanning and camping are proving to be this summer’s tourism hits with some sites recording figures up by a third.

As the credit crunch continues to bite and fuel costs soar, thousands of hard-pressed tourists are swapping the Costas for campfires.

Brownrigg camp and caravan site in Bellingham is up 35% this year and expects August numbers to be up 90% on 2007.

The site is run by Barry Howard and his wife Carole, 49.

Mr Howard, 50, said: “Unusually, camping seems to be more popular than caravanning this year. There is a definite tent trend and many of our guests are first-time campers.”

“More people have chosen to go camping this year rather than staying in hotels because of the credit crunch.”

Fellow Bellingham operator Robert Telfer, 45, is also reporting record figures at his Demesne Farm Campsite and Bunkhouse.

Mr Telfer, a retired fireman from the village, runs a 200-acre farm as well as the campsite. He set up the site with a £1,000 grant in the wake of the foot and mouth crisis in 2001 and described this summer as his “busiest time ever.”

Pat Reed, 55, owns Hadrian’s Wall Caravan and Camping Club, in Haltwhistle. She described this year as her longest ever season.

She said: “July and August are always popular months, but this year June has been very busy. I’m fully booked until August.”

“Eight years ago 90% of my guests were foreigners, this year 95% are British.”

“Last week at least a dozen people were trying out camping for the first time. They are bringing huge tents like marquees. One family told me they were only bringing a three-bedroomed tent – I told them my house only had three bedrooms.”

Keith and Ann Wright, of Etherley, Bishop Auckland, have been going on camping holidays for 20 years and are spending a summer break at Brownrigg.

Mr Wright, 69, said the combination of good weather and the British countryside made for good holidays.

He said: “It isn’t as cheap as it used to be, but it is still a lot cheaper than going abroad.

“I think more people are doing it because of the freedom. There are definitely more and more people taking camping holidays and the motor home has really taken off.

“People are getting them because you are able to just drive off at the end and not worry about putting up and taking down tents.

“When we are up this way the roads are also less congested.”