As many as 6.5 million people plan a domestic break over the Easter weekend but many are leaving it until the last minute to book amid cost of living concerns.
The total is down from 7.4 million over last Easter, which was on par with pre-pandemic 2019 figures.
An estimated £1.8 billion boost to the economy will be achieved if all the overnight trips go ahead, VisitEngland estimates.
Tourism agency data suggest a further 3.4 million people remain undecided about whether to take an overnight holiday over the long bank holiday weekend.
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The top reason was waiting to see if there were any special deals or offers, followed by waiting to see if they could afford it then waiting to see what the weather is like.
VisitEngland chief executive Patricia Yates said: “While it is good to see many of us are planning a holiday at home, it is clear from our research and feedback from destinations across England that concerns about the cost of living are having an impact.
“People are still keen to take a break however many are booking late, wanting to save on accommodation, activities and eating out and seeking good value options.
“Tourism businesses and destinations will be looking to the critical Easter weekend for much needed cash flow after the lean winter months and this highlights the ongoing challenges for industry with many still rebuilding from the pandemic.”
The majority of those due to travel plan a short-break of one-to-three nights.
The latest wave of VisitEngland’s monthly domestic consumer sentiment research towards travel shows that a third of those surveyed (33%) are more likely to choose a UK trip in the next six months than pre-pandemic with the top reason stated that ‘UK holidays are easier to plan’.
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