Tourism businesses are predicting a staycation boom as foreign holidays look set to come with severe restrictions.

Holiday cottage booking companies and camping sites are reporting huge demand after lockdown restrictions are eased on April 12.

Andrew Robson, of The Camping and Caravanning Club, said: “Compared to 2019, there has been a 52 per cent increase in the number of pitches booked at our Chipping Norton and Oxford Club sites this year.

“We anticipate that once we reopen, we are going to have a good year, and advance bookings continue to remain strong, mirroring the trend elsewhere across the UK – and there is still plenty of availability."

He said he believed people would be keen to get out into nature once restrictions are lifted.

“We believe that spending time in the great outdoors at places such as campsites will be a really important break that people need after spending so much time at home.”

Garri Rayner, founder of Go Glamping, a website which features Ye Olde Swan at Radcot and Campfires and Stars at Hook Norton, said there had been a marked increase in traffic.

He said: “The sense I get, using our website as a barometer, is once there is any semblance of normality the last place people are going to want to be is home.

“People will be gagging to get out and the easiest place to do that is in the UK.”

However, holidaymakers need to act fast as vacancies are becoming increasingly rare.

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Cottages.com, which is featuring nearly 350 cottage breaks in the Cotswolds, said two-thirds of coastal properties or those with hot tubs have been booked for the week beginning April 12.

Simon Altham, of parent company Awaze, added: “We’ve seen a marked increase in demand and traffic to our sites over the last week or so as people look to a UK getaway.

"The South West and traditional honeypot locations are booking up fast for the summer, with Cornwall more than 80 per cent sold and Devon nearly 70 per cent sold.”

There are now concerns that the increased demand will lead to price hikes.

Center Parcs, Haven and Butlins all raised their prices over Easter.

Meanwhile West Oxfordshire District Council has said that although coronavirus has hit it hard, they are continuing to support the visitor sector of the local economy.

It is worth an estimated £247million and creates around 4,400 jobs.

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Over the past year visitor numbers have decreased by an estimated 76 per cent and spend dropped by 80 per cent compared to 2019.

New initiatives include offering training and support especially with digital marketing skills. There will a a major campaign to promote local businesses and bookable on-line experiences.

Cllr Toby Morris, cabinet member for tourism, said there was now "light at the end of the tunnel".