The rise and rise of the staycation

As the spring months begin to heat up and the flip flops and shorts start to emerge from Britain's wardrobes, it's clear that summer is on its way.

And for many hardworking Brits, now may be the time when they can start to think about having some relaxing time away with their families, free from the stress of the office or school.

Some may already have booked their summer jaunt, while others might be waiting for a good last-minute deal to come up on the internet before deciding where to jet off to on holiday.

But what is certain these days is that millions of keen tourists are increasingly turning to a destination that they probably wouldn't have considered a number of years ago.

Britain.

The staycation was influence by the recession

The staycation became a trend in the midst of the recession, with households tightening their purse strings in an attempt to make their income go further.

And it's not just been a few families here and there jumping on the bandwagon and heading out on a nice little trip within the UK.

According to recent figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), when compared with the year before, the number of people travelling abroad in the 12 months to December 2009 dropped by 10.5 million - many of whom were undoubtedly tempted to reap the benefits of a domestic getaway.

British trips have loads of perks

These perks include cutting costs that otherwise go on expensive flights and hotels, rediscovering everything that's fantastic and unique about the UK and even giving local economies a bit of a boost too.

Commenting on the ONS data, Mike Saul, head of hospitality and leisure at Barclays, said: "It seems the staycation trend has life in it, as value-seeking Britons continue to holiday at home in strong numbers, assisting in the recovery of associated hospitality and leisure services."

But are all these would-be jetsetters only sticking around because of a lack of cash?

Of course not - the UK has become a holiday destination in its own right, with growing numbers of people enjoying its expansive country parks, rolling highlands, historic towns and cosmopolitan cities.

The UK is full of hidden gems

As Mary Rance, chief executive of UKinbound, says: "The UK is full of hidden gems and offers places of interest to young and old, first-time and seasoned visitors.

"[It] is full of unusual churches to explore and can offer some of the finest terrain for spring walking, whether it be in the Pennines, Peak District or south coast."

And even our seasides are enough to rival the likes of the Costa del Sol and French Riviera nowadays, according to one expert.

Chief executive of VisitEngland James Berresford explained that "England has some of the best beaches in the world".

Oh, I do like to be beside the seaside

He added they attract both British and international holidaymakers in their droves, with coastal towns accounting for 25 per cent of all holiday trips in the country.

What's more, 33 per cent of everything that's spent by visitors is shelled out at seaside resorts, making them "an incredibly important part of tourism in this country".

So, if these comments are anything to go by, it seems the UK will once again become a top holiday destination in the summer.

And the best thing about it? It's right on our doorstep.