VisitEngland has released figures from the United Kingdom Tourism Survey showing that holiday trips taken by UK residents in England in the first quarter of 2009 are up by 13 per cent.

The figure equates to 1.2m more holiday trips and over five million extra nights' holiday taken than in the same period of 2008. While overall trips, including business and visiting friends and family, from the January to April period have remained at a stable 27m, the holiday sector has benefited from Brits choosing to take their breaks close to home this year.

James Berresford, chief executive of VisitEngland, said that after much speculation and expectation about 2009 being the year to holiday at home - with ONS statistics confirming that outbound travel from Britain is down 18 per cent over the same period - the results are encouraging. "Time will tell if the trend for holidaying at home continues throughout the summer, but these early indications that people are rediscovering holidays in England is welcome news to the leisure tourism sector."

The report shows that overall trips taken throughout England in the month of April have increased by 34 per cent, though the Easter break falling in April rather than March in 2009 undoubtedly a significant factor in the rise. Business travel over the four month period is, however, down by 11 per cent, as companies continue to look for ways to save money in a difficult economic climate. The total amount spent on overnight travel since January is down by five per cent overall across types of trips, but the holiday sector in England has again bucked the trend, with an increase of four per cent over the same period.