North of Wales set to be top UK tourist destination despite resumption of international flights

The north of Wales is set to be one of the top holiday destinations for people in the UK this year, despite the resumption of international flights.

Travel restrictions are being eased across Wales and England today, May 17, but a survey has shown that more than four in five are set to stay at home due to nervousness about spreading and catching Covid-19 abroad.

Travelodge said a survey of 2,000 adults identified the north of Wales as one of the top destinations they planned to visit.

Half of the respondents said they haven’t had a holiday since the first lockdown began in March 2020.

As well as the north of Wales, Cornwall, Devon, Blackpool, Brighton and Bournemouth were named among the most popular coastal holiday destination, while the Lake District and the Scottish Highlands were also high on the list.

‘Holiday in Wales’

Despite most planning to stay at home, tourists are now able to travel to ‘green list’ countries such as Portugal and Gibraltar without having to quarantine provided they take a post-arrival test, and another one on their return.

However other popular destinations such as Spain, France, Italy and Greece remain on the ‘amber’ list.

The Welsh Government however continues to advise people to only travel abroad for essential purposes.

First Minister Mark Drakeford told BBC Breakfast: “Well, my clear advice to people in Wales has been ‘this is the year to take your holiday in Wales’ and that foreign travel is better avoided.”

“In a sheer practical sense, once airports in England are open, an instruction of people in Wales not to travel would simply be unenforceable.

“So we know most people who travel from Wales will be doing it from Bristol or Manchester or London – once those airports are open and travel across the United Kingdom is allowed then people from Wales will be able to travel.

“There’s no point in issuing an instruction that cannot be enforced, but the advice in Wales is very clear. We have fantastic opportunities in Wales to take a holiday, this is the year to take advantage of them.”