Platinum Jubilee weekend to bring £1.2bn economic boost

The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee is estimated to bring a £1.2bn boost to the economy as 5.3 million Brits are planning an overnight holiday break in the UK during the extended bank holiday weekend.

According to a VisitEngland survey, well over a third of Brits (19 million) are planning to take part in activities to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee.

This includes attending a ‘Big Jubilee Lunch’ street party to lunch in a pub, restaurant or café, to watching events on an outdoor screen or attending official celebrations.

Meanwhile, the top destination type for those intending to take an overnight domestic break in the UK for the extended weekend is a city or large town, followed by coastal towns.

However, a further 2.6 million people were undecided about whether to take an overnight holiday trip in the UK during the long weekend. The top reasons were ‘waiting to see what the weather is like,’ ‘waiting to see if I can afford it’ and ‘not sure where I’d like to go.’

Patricia Yates, VisitEngland chief executive, said: “The upcoming bank holiday is a fantastic opportunity for an extra special short-break at home or a day-out, enjoying the once-in-a-lifetime celebrations and show-stopping events for the historic Platinum Jubilee.

“The long weekend is also set to bring a much-needed boost to the industry and destinations as the summer season gets underway and our outstanding tourism businesses will be very pleased to welcome you back.”