Whether it is due to a dislike of rushing to make tight connecting flights, crowed airports or a simple fear of flying, increasing numbers of travellers simply don't want to get fly long distances by airplane. International terrorism, bird flu, language barriers and the risk of getting 'Delhi belly' are also contributing to a boost in the UK domestic tourism industry with the market now estimated to be worth over ?59 billion per annum.



Figures show that travellers who prefer making their trips within the UK rather than abroad, tend to journey more frequently but for shorter lengths of time, with the average period of a trip within the UK being just over 3 nights.

One possible explanation for the domestic short break trend is the powerful DINKY (Double Income No Kids Yet) demographic. With a high disposable income but perhaps not a great deal of free time due to heavy work commitments, the DINKY's holiday of choice is the short break. Heading straight off on holiday after work is particularly appealing to a group who are looking to fit as much into a 2-3 day break as possible. They can also afford more than one holiday a year so dividing up their annual leave allocation into multiple short breaks is the perfect solution.

Home grown attractions such as Royal Ascot, Wimbledon Lawn Tennis, Henley Royal and the Edinburgh International Festival are just a few of the internationally renowned events keeping the domestic tourist here during the summer months.

Another potential reason for this reduced length stay is possibly due to the generally high prices charged for UK hotel rooms. The UK has one of the highest rates of VAT levied on accommodation in the EU; with only Denmark imposing higher rates. In addition a new 'Bed Tax' is being proposed as part of a series of Government tax reviews. This will mean an additional 10% tax could be added on top of the current 17.5% VAT making the UK the most heavily taxed holiday destination in Europe.

Whether it's a shopping break to take advantage of the sales, a family theme park break with the kids, a luxury pampering break or a peaceful country break to simply escape the hustle and bustle of city living, it's all within easy reach through the specialist online travel companies who are able to offer wide ranges in choice for short breaks including hotel accommodation at discounted rates. Using online travel companies such as Superbreak (http://www.superbreak.com ), who specialise in booking 2-5 star hotel accommodation throughout the UK, Europe and beyond, means it is possible to book theatre and event tickets and arrange accommodation in advance, whilst also saving money.

Once you've decided where you're going on your short break there remains the mundane but highly recommended task of finding suitable travel insurance and the best price. This is where online sites offering financial comparison services (http://www.moneynet.co.uk ) such as Moneynet, come into their own and do the searching for you. Moneynet's travel insurance quick quote finder asks you 3 simple questions (where, who and how long?) and then brings back numerous quotes within a matter of seconds. You simply need to select the quote most appropriate to your needs and buy! Let's face it, the financial world is a vast and complicated place and most people are not properly equipped to quickly search through it all ? so leave the hard work to them and enjoy a short break instead!