As many as 7.4 million people plan an overnight holiday in the UK for the Easter weekend, bringing levels back to pre-pandemic 2019 levels.
The domestic break forecast by VisitEngland would provide an estimated £1.8 billion boost to the economy.
Figures for Easter 2019 were the highest since statistics started to be gathered and a rise on 2018 when 4.8 million were planning an overnight holiday trip for the long weekend. The figure was 6.6 million in 2017.
Of those definitely planning an overnight trip in England over Easter, the majority were planning a short break of one-to-three nights.
The survey also showed that a further 3.4 million people were undecided about whether to take an overnight trip in the UK during the Easter weekend.
The top reasons were ‘waiting to see if I can afford it’ followed by ‘waiting to see what the weather is like’ and ‘not sure where I’d like to go.’
Looking at day-trips in England, almost of a quarter of those surveyed were definitely planning one during the Easter weekend.
VisitEngland ramped up its domestic marketing last month, launching the next phase of its Escape the Everyday campaign to encourage short-breaks to English cities this spring and early summer.
The £1 million campaign has been putting the spotlight on quality destinations, visitor attractions and cities, which have been hit hard by the slower return of international visitors and their spending.
VisitBritain has estimated the loss to the economy in domestic tourism spending to be more than £97 billion in 2020 and 2021 combined.
VisitBritain/VisitEngland deputy chief executive Patricia Yates said: “This is the first Easter since 2019, pre-pandemic, that the industry has been able to fully trade and the long weekend will be critical in providing businesses and destinations with much needed cash-flow as the season gets underway.”