Britain is set to see its busiest road traffic for nearly a decade over the August bank holiday, with major delays expected on routes to music festivals in Leeds and Reading, although foreign tourists continue to stay away.

According to the RAC, an estimated 19.2 million private car journeys are expected over the weekend – the highest level since the breakdown service company began recording traffic data in 2015 – as drivers go “mad for day trips”.

Saturday, August 24, is expected to be the busiest day on the roads, with 3.7 million short trips planned, just over the 3 million planned each day for the rest of the weekend. A further 6.2 million trips are planned at some point over the long summer weekend, with drivers not yet sure exactly when they will travel. The vast majority of trips will be day trips, the RAC’s research found.

Alice Simpson, RAC breakdown service spokeswoman, said: “Whether you’re heading to a festival, the seaside, a theme park or somewhere else to meet up with friends and family, the usual tried and tested advice applies: set off as early as possible to avoid traffic jams or be prepared to sit in long queues.”

As Britons begin travelling again, the number of foreign visitors to the UK this year is expected to reach 38.7 million, 5% below pre-pandemic levels, a separate report showed on Monday.

The Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR) said that while the number of foreign visitors to the UK had increased from 38 million last year, travellers spent less per capita during their stay in the country, adjusted for inflation.

Figures from the Office for National Statistics show that overseas visitors spent £31.1 billion in the UK last year. VisitBritain expects that figure to rise to £32.5 billion this year, compared to pre-pandemic levels of £28.4 billion in 2019.

However, the CEBR said total tourist spending was 8% lower than in 2019, adjusted for inflation, representing a £2.8 billion “hole” in tourist spending.

The company warned that spending would be dampened by a mix of post-Brexit travel restrictions, the abolition of tax-free shopping for tourists and concerns over recent unrest in several cities, which led to some countries issuing safety advice to their citizens about travelling to the UK.

According to CEBR, the UK has also become comparatively more expensive for some visitors after accommodation, restaurant and flight prices have risen dramatically. The rise in the pound against the euro and Chinese yuan has also reduced the purchasing power of foreign tourists. However, visitors from the US have benefited from a stronger dollar.

Despite the difficulties for tourists, the Port of Dover expects more than 20,000 cars to enter and exit its port over the August weekend, with peak times expected to be between 6am and 1pm each day.

Doug Bannister, managing director of the Port of Dover, said the capacity of border processing areas had been reduced as preparations were made for the introduction of a new EU entry and exit system in November, meaning travellers may face longer waiting times.

“Rest assured that you will be able to depart on the next available departure,” he said. “We continue to advise all those departing from the Port of Dover that it is still necessary to arrive no earlier than the stated two hours.”