Holiday rental customers in the UK spend an estimated £4.35 billion a year and support 95,000 jobs throughout the country.
A comprehensive report on the economic impact of the holiday rentals sector which has a significant presence in Tayside and Fife has also found that owners spend £450 million on their properties and create employment for services and other local businesses.
The net direct effect of holiday rentals in the UK was estimated at £285m, with £100m taken in the form of income tax.
The survey by worldwide holiday homes listings firm HomeAway Inc, in conjunction with the London School of Economics, analysed key domestic destinations across the UK.
The report also estimated that expenditure by tourists in self-catering accommodation of £2.2bn a year grew faster than expenditure by tourists booking any other accommodation category.
Further findings were that 36% of holiday rental owners are likely to buy an additional rental home in the next five years, and that there is potential to grow the inbound tourism market from South America, Asia, Africa and Middle East.
