The result of the poll of over 400 worldwide visitors to the tourist board's website shows the choice of doing very little is more popular than an active break or a night out on the town!

Ian Dunlop, Aberdeen and Grampian Tourist Board's chief executive, said: "A long weekend is an opportunity for many to relax from the stresses of daily working life and this survey also shows how popular a leisure break to get away from it all can be. A quarter of those polled will take the opportunity to take a relaxing leisure break and where better to go than Aberdeen and Grampian Highlands, where the pace of life is just a bit slower."

Debbie Cooper, owner of the four-star Glen Lui Hotel in Ballater, is prepared for a full house over the Easter weekend.

She said: "Easter weekend is exceptionally busy, and the hotel will definitely fill up well beforehand. May and June are the busiest months, but Easter weekend is one of the busiest weekends in the calendar.

"The majority of guests over Easter weekend are couples, away for a romantic and relaxing break, and walking is the activity of choice as the weather becomes more friendly. Where walking and golf are the most popular daytime activities by far, the evening activity of choice tends to be relaxing in front of a log fire with a good malt!

"At Easter most of our guests travel up from Scotland's central belt, particularly the Edinburgh area, and our three-night deal, which is on the Aberdeen and Grampian Tourist Board website, tends to be snapped up early."