VisitBritain’s latest
trade mission is taking place in Brazil ,
the BRIC country leading on growth of visits to the UK in the last five years. Since
2007 there has been a 97% increase in visits to Britain
from Brazil - markedly
higher than China (25%), Russia (2%) and India (1%). So far in 2013, up to
and including July, estimates show an increase of 10% in visits from Brazil compared
to the same period in 2012.
Shopping-inspired
Brazilians are the largest BRIC market for holiday visits to the UK , the biggest outside Europe after US, Australia and Canada . Last year, 260,000
Brazilians visited - two thirds (68%) for a holiday, compared to just over one
third of visits from China
or India (both 35%), whilst
41% of visits from Russia
were for a holiday.
To maximise reach, the
three day Brazil Sales Mission is being split across Sao Paulo and Rio de
Janeiro (1st - 4th Oct), where a total of 34 visiting delegates representing 28
companies will meet with top Brazilian travel agents during a series of
one-on-one business appointments and seminars. Delegates include national and
regional tourism boards, major retail groups, city and tourist attraction
promotion organisations, travel agencies, hotel groups and specialist tour
operators. Companies attending include influential retail groups Westfield UK,
Bicester Village and McArthurGlen Designer Outlets, alongside InterContinental
London Park Lane, London & Partners, VisitEngland, Warner Bros Studio Tours
and Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum.
The mission offers Britain a good
opportunity to increase Brazilian visitor spend, particularly as they are
motivated by shopping, ranking highly when it comes to ‘propensity to shop’.
VisitBritain research shows that a 'shopping' tourist spends more - an average
of £680 per trip - than an ‘ordinary’ overseas tourist, who typically spends
£580. Brazilians (73%), Russians (68%)
and Chinese (65%) all have a higher than average appetite for shopping, whereas
Indians are about average at 58%.
“Brazilians are attracted
by our retail offering and till-busting Brazilian shoppers have shown
significant growth in terms of holiday visits and spend. Shopping tourists
spend big and our mission aims to further strengthen these ties, giving
influential British companies the opportunity to promote their products face to
face.”