As Brits prepare to jet off on their sunshine holiday for the Easter break and millions more are busy planning their big summer getaway, a survey conducted by leading online travel agent On the Beach has found that whilst 67% of holidaymakers consider themselves confident swimmers, almost a third (31%) won't swim in the sea.

The survey of 1500 British holidaymakers revealed more than a quarter (27%) of British holidaymakers say they are not confident in the water, with a further 7% saying they are unable to swim at all.

Whilst 69% of sun-seeking Brits enjoy swimming in open water, the majority (45%) of those that stay well clear say they simply prefer to swim in their hotel pool, whilst almost a quarter (23%) say they a scared of swimming in the sea.

One in 10 holidaymakers won't swim in the sea because 'it's too cold', whilst 4% don't like swimming in the sea because they believe it's 'too dirty'.

Following research by ASA (Amateur Swimming Association), one in ten parents said their child only swims during their holiday and 39% also told the ASA that their child was not participating in any type of swimming lessons.

Alistair Daly, Chief Marketing Officer for On the Beach commented:

"It's seem a shame that many people are not confident in the water, be it in the pool or sea, which can make a huge difference to the enjoyment of your holiday, especially for children. Most hotels offer fantastic swimming pools for both adults and kids, and Spain alone has 550 Blue Flag beaches which means that not only are the beaches up to standard, but the water has been tested for its cleanliness and bathing quality."

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For further information please contact Jamie Wortley: jamie@jpwcommunications.com

About On the Beach

Founded in 2004, On the Beach is a leading online travel company in the UK and has become one of the most popular holiday booking sites, with 45 million website visitors every year and close to one million customers choosing On the Beach to find, book and enjoy their perfect beach holiday. Book online at www.onthebeach.co.uk