British tourism is going through an extraordinary boom in spite of a pre-Brexit drop in European arrivals.
It is predicted that overall spending by overseas visitors would reach a record £26.6 billion this year, which is a 6.6% increase on the expected 2019 figure of £25 billion.
The number of overseas visits to the UK is estimated to increase this year to a record 39.7 million, going up 2.9% from 2019.
Inbound tourism visits to the UK have grown 33% and spending by 58% during the last decade.
However, tourism is an extremely competitive global industry and it is important to recognize the challenges, according to British Tourist Authority chairman Steve Ridgway, former chief executive of Virgin Atlantic.
Growth from Europe has slowed and VisitBritain is working with the tourism industry to launch a new campaign in the spring to make sure that Europeans book trips this year, and also to keep them informed about the “practicalities of travel” after Brexit.
Sustainability is also in focus, with countries around the world grappling with the global growth in tourism and the UK no different, said Ridgway.
As per official figures released, visitors spent £951 million in the UK in the 2018-19 financial year due to activity by VisitBritain/VisitEngland.
Ridgway described tourism in the UK as an “economic powerhouse” – attracting inward investment with potential to kindle regional economies.
Ridgway said: “These figures are testament to Britain’s success in competing for international visitors and their spending. Inbound tourism today is the UK’s third largest service export, an industry that needs no trade deals to thrive and that creates jobs and drives economic growth right across the country.”
Tags: British tourism
