Dorset staycations are less popular than previous years
Bookings are down across the UK
Short term holiday rentals and hotel bookings are down on previous years.
The sector is starting to feel the effects of the cost of living crisis, poor weather and the already saturated market.
It follows the government announcing in last months budget that the tax relief will come to an end from April 2025 alongside an increase in regulations.
Recent data found more short-term lets were available in the UK over the past 12 months, with hotel owner Ken Robins telling us he is seeing much the same at his hotel in Bournemouth.
"The whole of Bournemouth was empty this Easter, that was primarily driven by the weather, but it was also driven by the lack of investment in Bournemouth. If the council wants to develop tourism there is no point spending a lot of money on marketing. What they've got to do is get the product that people want."
He also warned the proposed ‘tourist tax’ could 'destroy the hotel industry”.
He told us it would see guests at 70 of the larger hotels in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole pay at least an extra £2.20 per room per night.
New controls on holiday lets in England will also be introduced this summer, including a mandatory national registration scheme and councils being given greater powers if they want to use them to control short-term lets by making them subject to the planning process.