North Dorset is poised for a spectacular tourism season following lockdown, sparking a broader economic stimulus to the region.

Self-catering cottages with gardens, camping and glamping are the most popular types of accommodation, as customers look to maintain their distance on holiday. The latest research from Visit Britain shows that the southwest is the region where most people want to stay, voted for by 29% of those interviewed, with Scotland a distant second on 16%.

Most cited outside areas as the most important factor and while a camping holiday on the coast rated highest at 33%, a similar holiday in a village or countryside followed closely (29%).

To maintain distancing, some campsites are installing open-air showers – and bookings are already pouring in.
While only one in five of those asked said they would take a UK break between April and June, the figure rises to 50% between July and September – reflecting the huge demand from families to get away in the school holidays.

Mark Ralph, who has six yurts at Caalm Camp in Stour Row, said his bookings are up 200% on previous years, mostly families from the south of England.

His guests are regulars at nearby pubs and The Udder Farm Shop. “Any reservations that we get are very good for the local economy: Guests like to shop locally when they stay,” he said.

Publican Sally Griggs has put a four-bedroomed house at Coking Farm Fishery, West Stour, on the holiday market for the first time this year, through holidaycottages.co.uk. “The school holiday weeks and half-terms are gone: the booking company said it normally takes three years to get where we are already,” said Sally. “People want to be safer, to get away with their family – and they want to bring the dog.”

Sally is using a local company which cleans her pub, The Ship at West Stour, to clean the holiday home laundry. The knock-on benefit from tourism is keenly felt in an area which has suffered badly in lockdown.

In Dorset, 14% of employees work in tourism. Many were furloughed but the number of people whose main job was in tourism during July- September 2020 was 10.8% lower than in the same quarter of 2019, mainly people aged 25-34.

Tourists also mean more jobs and business in pubs, restaurants and shops. The holiday providers often provide welcome hampers, which encourage guests to buy more to take home.

Kirsty Adlem, who has two shepherds’ huts (Dither and Faff) in Marnhull, said: “I supply a hamper with all local produce: my guests never go home without stocking up on sausages from Holebrooks Deli, Thomas Fudges’ flapjacks and Dorset Dairy Co yoghurt.”

Her huts are almost full for the rest of 2020. “Guests have booked for longer too, so instead of a couple of nights, the majority have booked for a week. A high percentage are from London, looking for a countryside retreat,” said Kirsty.

The confidence in this season is also built on the experience of 2020. In the southwest, bed occupancy increased from 19% in April to 72% in August – no other English region exceeded 58% occupancy after March.

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