Scarborough accommodation providers set to look 'healthy' this year
It's because going abroad may be expensive so people will stay in the UK
Accommodation providers in Scarborough are set to look 'healthy' this year despite some worries about closures.
It is thought people could end up staying in the UK again for a holiday as going abroad may be expensive.
There are claims the hospitality industry can handle a huge influx of visitors in Scarborough because some bed and breakfasts are becoming holiday lets instead.
James Rusden owns The Toulson Court and said: "The majority of our rates are only going up a couple of pounds a night. We're not going up 10 or 15 percent like inflation, we're going up marginally. We're trying to encourage people to book with us and stay longer with us so I think this year will be very healthy.
"A B&B is a viable business at the minute in the time especially in Scarborough. There's so much to attract extra people coming to events as well as the people who come just for a summer holiday, enjoying the seaside and amusements and all that. If you're lucky, you might see a walrus in the harbour.
"It's a viable business and it's frustrating for us as B&B owners to see other B&BS closing down because they're becoming holiday homes or something else and that's taking money away from the economy, because the people who own the holiday homes aren't necessarily based in Scarborough, they could be down in London as investors and a lot of them would bring their shopping with them and they don't tend to eat out in the restaurants here.
"The marketplace is there and it's a busy little town. We've been out in the high street on a weekend and it's heaving. It's busy and packed during the busy times. I think people are now moving away from online shopping and spending the money they have in their pocket rather than in the bank, so they'll shop locally looking for a bargain."
Angela, his wife, said: "Just with the costs now to travel abroad, it's just so much higher than they were. There's so much happening in the UK but particularly there's so much happening in Scarborough."
James added: "I think some of the older generation and people who are vulnerable aren't prepared to go abroad just yet and I think people have seen what the British seaside has to offer."