Almost a quarter of the adult population – or 12 million people – plan to take at least one overnight trip in the UK over the Christmas and New Year period.
Within that figure, 9.8 million are planning a trip in England, according to VisitEngland’s latest Trip Tracker survey.
This is likely to generate some £2.1 billion in tourism spend for the UK economy, with around £1.7 billion to be spent in England.
More than a third of people (35%) who are definitely planning an overnight stay in England said they will be spending more nights away from home compared to last Christmas.
Many Britons have made plans for seasonal activities, with 45% intending to visit the sales, 30% planning a trip to a Christmas market and one in five (19%) participating in other Christmas pursuits such as ice skating, seeing a pantomime or visiting Father Christmas.
Just 3% (1.5m) plan to travel abroad over the Christmas and new year period – a figure which does not match Abta’s estimate of almost four million travelling overseas (see separate story).
VisitEngland chief executive James Berresford said: “It’s great to see that so many people are planning to visit another part of the country with a break over the festive period. Wherever you stay in England there is always something exciting to see or do right on the doorstep, and this is never truer than at Christmas.”