More than half of Scots said they are likely to plan a trip in Scotland, as staycations continue to boom, a new survey found.

Of those planning holidays, 53 per cent said they intended to take a break in their own country, while 44 per cent would be heading to England.

In 2021, more than 60 per cent of domestic trips in Scotland were taken by Scots residents.

Tourism bosses said it is "fantastic to see this interest continue in 2022", despite international travel restrictions easing.

In particular, the Highlands were among the most popular destinations.

Chris Greenwood, senior tourism insight manager at VisitScotland, said: “Scotland has always been a popular holiday destination for Scots even before the pandemic.

“However, the last two years have sparked renewed interest with many people discovering the joy of a holiday at home.

“In 2021, more than 60 per cent of domestic trips in Scotland were taken by Scots residents and it is fantastic to see this interest continue in 2022, despite the relaxation of international restrictions.

“Research is showing that visitors are exploring beyond the traditional Highland hotspots into other areas such as Dundee, Angus and the south of Scotland."

Glasgow Times: The Scottish mountain Buachaille Etive Mor in Glen Etive near Glencoe in the Highlands of Scotland, UK. (Photo by: Arterra/UIG via Getty Images).

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Marc Crothall, chief executive of the Scottish Tourism Alliance, which represents more than 250 different businesses and organisations, said: “The results of the research will offer a significant degree of optimism for Scotland’s tourism businesses.

"It has been an unimaginably difficult two years for our industry and this is starting to feel like the level of normality that we’ve all been so desperate to regain.

“It’s heartening to see that after two years of living with different levels of restrictions around international travel, Scotland remains the preferred choice for more than half of those surveyed who indicated that they would be taking a holiday this year.

"The UK domestic market accounts for around 70 per cent of tourism in Scotland and our industry will always be dependent on this spend.

“However, the return of the international market will be the game changer this year, particularly for the sectors which are so reliant on international visitors and have suffered the worst.”