Was 2009 the year the British fell in love with holidaying at home again, or was it a blip on the radar while we tightened our belts before jetting off to the sun in 2010?

The Brits embraced the idea of a staycation last year, keen to do our bit to keep the economy afloat by spending money at home and saving on flights, but 2010 has started with murmurs of discontent amongst UK holiday providers. They believe that this year could be an “annus horribilis” as travellers are once again swayed by the lure of foreign travel. The increasing strength of the pound also makes visitors from overseas less likely to plug the gap in the market and the tourist deficit of £17 billion is certain to grow even wider.

We had a chat with Simon Tregoning, MD of Classic Cottages who represents over 600 cottages across the West Country. He takes the view that 2011 is the year when the UK will make a recovery for domestic tourism and has genuine concerns about 2010. Classic Cottages is a well-known accommodation provider with clever marketing, an award winning brochure and a loyal clientele, but there must be concerns for some of the more niche providers out there and Visit Britain must be worried too.

Nobody wants to see a repeat of 2009, the bankers threw our savings away, the government tightened the noose a bit more and the Met Office couldn’t tell a snowflake from a Cadbury’s (Kraft?) Flake. The year ahead should be a welcome return to form for tour operators offering overseas travel but let’s also give domestic tourism a chance, there is so much to see in the UK.

We dropped in on friends in Cornwall last week for the day (a nano-break!?) to take in some sights and have lunch at just one of the incredible restaurants near Newquay, another reminder of the reassures in our own backyard.

Ian Bradley