Yorkshire Coast holiday park operator says it's helping local economy and employment

There are concerns people are moving away from the seaside to get a job

Author: Karen LiuPublished 27th Jul 2023

A Yorkshire Coast holiday park operator says it is helping the local economy and employment opportunities.

There are concerns people are moving away from the seaside to find jobs elsewhere.

Haven, which has sites in and around Filey, says it provides apprenticeships meaning locals stay here rather than leave.

Nick Walker, operations director, said: "Inflation is always a factor but our objective is to ensure that we're absorbing as much of that as possible and continue to offer value. We think everyone has a right to a great holiday and we're hopefully, and I think we are, providing great value for money holidays for a lot of people in Yorkshire to come and holiday in Yorkshire itself, keeping money in the local community and investing in Yorkshire itself.

"I think about 85 percent of our guests will come from about an hour and a half drive time. I think the vast majority of our holidaymakers come from West Yorkshire, so it's fantastic for people to come and holiday in the region that they live in.

"I think Covid gave us an opportunity to showcase what a great British holiday looks like and staycations are booming. I'd encourage anybody who hasn't been on holiday in the UK coastline to come and see it.

"People sort of trek through security at airports and go on long flights to places that are pertty hot at the moment and within an hour and a half drive time, you've got this amazing site with high octane adventure, kids in swimming pools, smiles on faces and families reconnecting.

"We put a lot of people through apprenticeships across our sites on the Yorkshrie Coast and we employ just short of 500 people here and we're able to provide really, really good careers right on people's doorsteps so they don't have to leave the local area to have that career."

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