IT was a bumper Easter for most traders in Wales this year, according to the first part of Visit Wales' business survey.

Around two fifths (44 per cent) of all businesses established for longer than 12 months said they had received more visitors this Easter compared to last Easter, while around a fifth (19 per cent) reported they had received fewer.

Visitor numbers showed the greatest increase for caravans (55 per cent) and attractions (51 per cent) and the smallest increase for self-catering accommodation (32 per cent), said the report, which is published on the Welsh Government website.

For businesses receiving more visitors this year, better weather (55 per cent), the later Easter (25 per cent) and marketing efforts (seven per cent) were felt to have contributed.

On the other hand, for the 19 per cent of businesses that had received fewer visitors the main causes were felt to be poor weather (28 per cent), the economic climate (11 per cent) and also the later Easter (seven per cent).

Two fifths (43 per cent) of businesses operating for longer than 12 months reported a higher turnover this Easter compared to last Easter.

Most businesses (87 per cent) were confident about the upcoming summer season, with 35 per cent very confident and 52 per cent fairly confident.