Travellers 'scaling back holiday plans'

Ferry trips in the UK could prove more popular among British travellers this year as the recession forces many people to scale back their holiday plans, new research suggests.

A survey by corporate consultancy Good Business found that nearly half (46 per cent) of consumers are planning to holiday closer to home as a result of the recession.

The environment also appears to be a factor in this trend, with more than half (55 per cent) of the respondents saying they intend to choose a destination they can reach by ferry or train rather than flying.

Giles Gibbons, founder and chief executive of Good Business, said: "With less money in their pockets, it seems many holidaymakers plan to look for cheaper alternatives in the UK this year.

"Some might see this as good news from an environmental perspective, with reductions in things like flights."

There are a number of travel options on offer to people planning to holiday in the UK this year, including ferry crossings from Liverpool to Dublin with P&O Ferries and Norfolkline.

Travellers can also visit the Isle of Man by sailing with the Steam Packet Company from Liverpool, Heysham, Belfast or Dublin, or explore the islands north of Scotland with Pentland Ferries and NorthLink Ferries.