Kent is set to cash in to the tune of £590million, according to latest research, as crowds opt for a staycation in the UK rather than attempting to take the risk of jetting abroad.

As lockdown measures continue to be eased, a question mark still hangs over traditional foreign holidays, amid travel restrictions and the fear of quarantine requirements.

But now research by the bank Barclays says some 23m Brits are planning at least one staycation this summer - with £31bn being spent on domestic holidays.

And Kent is set to see 800,000 visitors coming to the county, it claims.

However, the county sits outside of the top 10 holiday destinations in the UK - with Cornwall number one and expected to benefit from £1.7bn of staycation business. The Lake District, Devon and Yorkshire are also set to reap the rewards the most.

As part of the bank's Know Your Nation campaign, it says its survey revealed half of British holidaymakers (48%) are planning trips that will allow them to explore areas in the UK with lots of small independent businesses.

Restaurants are also central to people’s holiday hopes, with access to a top dining spot considered to be ‘really important’ by over half of Brits (54%) when on holiday.

Over half of 18–34-year-olds (55%) are looking for a luxury break as an antidote to the stress of lockdown life, compared to just one quarter of those over 55 (26%).

Hannah Bernard, head of business banking at Barclays, said: “We’ve seen many small businesses adapting their premises to get ready to meet the needs of holidaymakers this summer. The investments that they have made will hopefully be rewarded as millions of Brits support the nation’s hotels, restaurants and shops, providing local economies with a welcome boost.”

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