Holiday centres ended 2003 on a very positive note, having enjoyed the benefits of a heatwave summer – which stimulated last-minute bookings of weekends – and the increase in the number of Britons staying at home for their holiday. The statistics for travel abroad may still be climbing, but there are many who are reluctant to holiday abroad in the present international climate and are opting, instead, for the safe, ‘inclusive’ appeal of domestic centres, villages and parks.

Holiday centres ended 2003 on a very positive note, having enjoyed the benefits of a heatwave summer – which stimulated last-minute bookings of weekends – and the increase in the number of Britons staying at home for their holiday. The statistics for travel abroad may still be climbing, but there are many who are reluctant to holiday abroad in the present international climate and are opting, instead, for the safe, ‘inclusive’ appeal of domestic centres, villages and parks.

For the domestic tourist, the increasingly sophisticated choices of the 2000s are between entertainment at centres like Butlins – where pop stars are now sharing the stage with tribute bands – and stress-relieving breaks in the forest centres for which Center Parcs is famous across Europe.

Providing a unique overview of the market's size, prospects, structure and consumers this report analyses all these key developments and other salient issues, providing a fresh insight into the key topics such as:

A purple patch for UK holiday centres

Growing interest from a wider audience – how high-profile investment in facilities has paid off hosting concerts at its major centres.

Improving access via e-commerce

Record sales of holidays by centres in 2004

Attitudes towards catering at holiday centres

Motivations for consumers to visit holiday centres

How both consumer sophistication and committed ownership by specialised companies could help boost the market for holidays centres in the future