Brits could enjoy an extra day off in October, with the Government considering adding a bank holiday to this year's calendar.
The new public holiday was suggested by the strategy director of Visit Britain, the UK's tourist board, who confirmed the Government was "considering" the idea.
Patricia Yates added that the tourism sector was suffering from the lack of visitors over the May bank holidays due to the coronavirus lockdown.
She told the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee: "Every time we do the modelling the figures get worse. So for inbound, I mean we were looking at the beginning of this year at about £26.6bn coming from inbound tourism, we reckon a £15bn drop on that."
The Government confirmed that the idea of a bank holiday in October was being looked at, but warned that an extra day off would have an economic cost.
The new bank holiday could fall in the October school half term holiday. Ms Yates added that an extra public holiday could allow businesses in the tourism industry to extend their holiday season and boost profits hit severely by the lockdown.
She told MPs that British tourists were expected to spend £22 billion in the UK this year, down considerably from the usual figure of around £80 billion.
Ms Yates added: "To get British tourism up and running this summer is hugely important as we need that domestic audience."
Overnight stays are not allowed under current Government coronavirus lockdown rules.
The earliest hotels could open is July, but the Government has warned repeatedly that lockdown plans could change if the virus infection rates worsens again.
UK Hospitality, which represents businesses in the leisure industry, gave cautious approval to the new bank holiday idea, but warned that plans could change.
Chief executive Kate Nicholls said: "A bank holiday in October may provide a welcome boost for hospitality businesses, not least at a time when consumer confidence will hopefully be returning to healthy levels.
"However, we are still some way from knowing what the sector will look like. A lot depends on whether businesses are able to open safely and whether the Government continues to support businesses who need it."
The next UK bank holiday is May 25.
