There are two categories of activites focused on countryside and coastal activities - experiencing rural life and scenery and outdoor leisure pursuits.
The Office for National Statistics released detailed final 2017 data on 17 August, we will update this page soon with the 2017 results.
Experiencing rural life and scenery
| Activities asked about | Number of visits that involved activity (000) | % of all visits | Amount spent in UK* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Going to countryside or villages | 4,996 | 13% | £4,540 |
| Going to coast or beaches | 3,797 | 10% | £3,460 |
| Visiting a national park | 2,490 | 7% | £2,430 |
Outdoor leisure pursuits
| Activities asked about | Number of visits that involved activity (000) | % of all visits | Amount spent in UK* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walking in the countryside | 6,459 | 20% | £3,900 |
| Going for a walk, hike or ramble | 5,935 | 17% | £4,970 |
| Walking along the coast | 2,445 | 8% | £1,970 |
| Playing golf | 354 | 1% | £480 |
| Fishing | 115 | <1% | £140 |
Source: International Passenger Survey 2006-2016 *By those whose visit included the activity. Spend is not specifically whilst under-taking activity throughout visit to UK
Propensity for holidays in UK nations and regions involving specific activities
IPS figures also show that Scotland, Wales, the South West and Yorkshire are most likely to see holiday visits involving a visit to a national park, with walking in the countryside common in the South West, Scotland and Wales.
Visiting the coast / beaches, and walking by the coast is particularly likely in Wales and the South West, followed by the North East, Scotland and the South East.
| Visiting rural / coastal locations, participating in outdoor /sports activities | SW | SE | LON | EE | WM | EM | YKS | NW | NE | WL | SC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Going to the coast or beaches | 48% | 37% | 3% | 16% | 9% | 14% | 22% | 14% | 31% | 53% | 35% |
| Visiting a national park | 26% | 11% | 4% | 4% | 8% | 8% | 26% | 9% | 16% | 30% | 25% |
| Walking in the countryside | 58% | 45% | 12% | 27% | 33% | 32% | 37% | 24% | 26% | 50% | 52% |
| Walking along the coast | 37% | 25% | 2% | 9% | 4% | 4% | 15% | 8% | 35% | 38% | 29% |
| Playing golf | 3% | 4% | 0% | 3% | 3% | 3% | 5% | 1% | 0% | 3% | 7% |
Source: International Passenger Survey 2006-2011
