VISITORS flocking to Pembrokeshire to enjoy a spot of sunshine over the Easter weekend have given a boost to the county’s tourist trade.

As new figures show that 2013 was a bumper year for tourism in Wales, there are hopes that economic recovery across parts of the UK is giving visitors confidence in extra spending.

The Great British Tourism Survey for 2013 shows that British residents made 9.93 million visits to Wales - 3.4 per cent up on the previous year.

They spent £1.7billion on their Welsh holidays, an increase of nearly seven per cent from 2012.

Tenby hotelier Chris Osborne, who is president of the resort’s Chamber of Trade and Tourism and chair of the Wales Tourism Alliance, said: “There is cautious optimism that there is a ripple of recovery, and certainly people who are booking holidays are prepared to commit themselves by doing so earlier than usual before their arrival.

“It’s been a long winter, but hopefully, because Easter is so late this year, there won’t be a dip before the May bank holiday.”

Saundersfoot Chamber for Tourism vice-chairman Michael Slade agreed that visitors appear to be booking further ahead and for longer.

“Our bed and breakfast was flat out all last week, and July and August are full already,” he said. “We feel that things are looking good at the moment for the summer, and this seems to be a similar story from people around the village.”

Phil Odley, Saundersfoot Chamber for Tourism chairman, said it was 'a bumper bank holiday weekend'. He added: "Even the rain on Easter Sunday didn't stop the crowds."