Recently returning from a short UK family break it’s great to see summer holiday mode in full swing. Having experienced some fantastic UK weather too, it's a reminder of how lucky we are to live in the Southwest, close to beaches and surrounded by countryside. With restrictions still very much in place and not immediately straight forward for European and International travel, we are seeing fully booked campsites and hotels and high prices for any breaks not yet snapped up within the region. It’s great, and about time, to see this spike in the tourism industry. Particularly as, I expect, for a number of holiday makers, they might not have been this way before and may look to return rather than default to foreign destinations.

Having a knock-on effect to the property industry, holiday property investments are providing a good and secure return for their owners and for some visitors to the area a positive experience may mean they could look to invest in their own accommodation in the future. All activity which supports the continued purple patch in the Southwest, where properties are still selling quickly, and with demand that still outstrips supply. Putting vendors in a strong position.

Over the years, I have known those making the most of where they live by moving out of their house in the summer months to let out their home to staycationers, made more straight forward with the introduction of the likes of Airbnb, providing a relatively easy to use platform to attract and secure bookings. Sometimes letting their home for the duration of the holidays or for a certain event such as to let out their home whilst they holiday during, for example, Sidmouth Folk Week. Other examples of those earning income through their property are people with a property or land with outbuildings ripe for conversion into an annexe or holiday cottage. Perhaps a barn on farm land, ready for change of use. All examples achieving a great return on investment for the property owner and increasing the provision for tourists to visit our beautiful area.