The Passenger Shipping Association has released figures that indicate a marked rise in UK ferry passenger numbers as over 11.4 million trips were made across the UK last year. The increase, of around 1.4 percent against 2008 statistics, re-enforced the belief across the travel industry that staycationing was the biggest trend of 2009.

Holidaymakers travelling with cars also increased as over 2 million ferry journeys accompanied by vehicles took place last year – a rise of 0.7 percent from the same period in 2008. The new data reiterates figures from the Office for National Statistics which commissioned by the UK Tourism Survey. The results showed that the period from June to August 2009 saw English residing Britons make 22 percent more journeys that in the previous year, with spending also up by 20 percent.

The recent trend towards staycationing is predicted to continue well into this year as holiday goers explore the closer to home concept of overseas travel by literally crossing the water to popular coastal destinations across the UK and Northern Ireland. The Isle of Wight remains a favoured option with some 88,000 visitors using the island as their main holiday last year, a rise of 16 percent from 2008 while a further 137,000 people visited as mini-holidays.

The best deals for the Isle of Wight are found through Red Funnel, the ferry operator that also books hotel accommodation and tours. Now is a great time to explore this region as the island is fast becoming the in vogue weekend destination for Brits.