Holiday rise for big day?

This year’s Easter bank holiday will be followed by an extra public holiday when Prince William and Kate Middleton tie the knot on Friday April 29.

It means workers at many companies could enjoy 11 days off and use just three days of their annual leave.

Dewsbury-based travel agent Alison Downie, who works for Travel Counsellors, said Easter was beginning to rival the summer holidays as one of the most popular times to get away.

“Easter is really busy,” she said. “With the royal wedding it could prove even more popular because people don’t need so much time off.

“We’ve seen an upsurge in bookings in general and I expect it will be a lot busier this Easter.”

Kevin Matthews, owner of 360 Global Travel in Cleckheaton, agreed.

“This year Easter bookings are far higher than last year,” he said.

“I think part of that is the time of Easter with it being right at the end of April and the added bonus of the additional bank holiday.

“Regardless of the school holidays, which we’ve seen couples sometimes steer away from, the fact that there’s a long break is feeding demand for holidays over this period.”

And both travel agents expected to see tour operators promoting special offers as the royal wedding draws near.

Mr Matthews said: “We’ve not seen anything significant yet but I’m quite sure when we get nearer some of the travel companies will be putting packages on.”

Ms Downie said: “We’ve had a few people asking about going down to London but not a vast amount. I do know there are a lot of cruise companies celebrating it by launching special offer cruises with events around the wedding though.”

But Ms Downie said she would not be among those heading overseas.

“I’m not going to be going abroad because I’m hoping to go down to London for the wedding with my youngest and my mum,” she said.