In the space of a few months, the way we travel has changed dramatically. Only a few years ago, quick jaunts to European capitals were commonplace, easy and cheap enough that they might be a last-minute idea for the weekend. Now, however, they have become less accessible, less common, and less desirable.

The COVID-19 pandemic of 2020 has closed many international borders. Even as they reopen, the UK continues to update their self-isolation protocols requiring travellers to remain home when returning from their holidays. These limitations, as well as health concerns people continue to experience when Travelling, have deterred people from travelling abroad.

Additionally, environmental concerns and the carbon cost of flying have created a new trend of flight guilt. Even before the pandemic, this was starting to change the tourism industry, pushing more travellers to consider travelling over land or refraining from going abroad. Now is the age of the staycation, where more British residents are taking their trips in-land, exploring the countryside and beaches of home instead.

What does this mean for your home?

Primarily, this means that your home may become part of a Tourist destination. If you are in a desirable area within which to explore or stay, you’re likely to see visitors increase in number and appear for a longer period of the year. For some, this is a welcome surge, while others are trying to limit it.

The quiet beaches of Cornwall and the rural log cabins of Scotland are seeing greater footfall and, with that, comes potential issues. Busier streets mean more noise for homes and less accessibility for residents. It can mean that, during busier seasons, your home town becomes unrecognisable. Some choose to weather the season, while others leave for peace and quiet.

Those who do leave occasionally chose to rent out their home and earn income from visiting tourists. Furthermore, the value of property in rural, tourist destinations will continue to rise. This is not only because they are more desirable to own as holiday homes but also because they are potentially profitable as guesthouses and Airbnbs. Depending on the impact staycations have on your area and how settled your roots are, your home’s new value may serve as an opportunity to move elsewhere and with improved equity.

If you choose to stay, you may experience your community change as neighbours begin to leave, homes become empty during off-season periods, and different businesses establish themselves on your high street. As internal tourism creates new demand, the area you currently live in may change quickly.

Alternatively, your home may be unaffected and tourism doesn’t increase in your area. In this situation, and with the desire to travel in-land, you will have more options than ever before. The aforementioned tourism demand will create more opportunities for travel and stays around the country. However, as part of a new group of staycation tourists, it is important to remember that you are impacting the areas you visit and that these areas, while not your home, have their own residents experiencing change.

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