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12/11/15
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Issue 64 Winter 2015 £2.75
Record-breaking visitor spending figures revealed By Christina Eccles INTERNATIONAL visitors have spent an extra £2.5b in Britain during the last four years as a result of work by the national tourism agency VisitBritain, figures have revealed. This beats the target set for it by the UK Government in 2011 by more than half a billion pounds and means that every £1 invested in VisitBritain’s activities has resulted in an overseas visitor spending £21 in Britain. Overall inbound tourism, Britain’s third largest service export and one of its fastest growing, was worth more than £26b to the UK economy in 2013. The industry is also a major job creator, for example every 22 additional Chinese visitors that come to Britain create an additional job in the sector. VisitBritain chair Christopher Rodrigues said: “We have contributed to another record year for inbound tourism numbers and spend. Inbound tourism is clearly a key economic driver, creating growth and jobs right across Britain. “We will continue to deliver awardwinning campaigns, build partnerships to extend our impact, make it easy for people to get here by building air route connectivity and supporting the development of a bookable, integrated transport system which is easy for the international customer to understand and use.
“Everything we do is motivated by the goal to add value to the inbound tourism industry, maximising the taxpayers’ investment in tourism, and driving economic growth across the nations and regions ensuring that the economic benefits of tourism are felt across the whole of Britain.” Tourism minister Tracey Crouch added: “VisitBritain has done fantastic work to promote UK tourism to overseas visitors. “There are a multitude of wonderful cultural and heritage sites on offer throughout the UK which I'm delighted that overseas visitors are enjoying. “However, there is always more to do and this Government is committed to supporting the tourism industry, and through the Five Point Plan for tourism, we will ensure these economic benefits are spread throughout the country.” Announcing the figures at its annual review launch, VisitBritain also reiterated its ambition for international visits to Britain to grow by more than 20 per cent during the next five years to 42m by 2020. This could see an additional £4.5b in visitor spend. The agency will be working to ensure that its major markets for regional exploration – Europe, the USA and Australia – continue to deliver, as well as competing for the new growth markets of tourism such as China, Brazil and the Gulf.
London’s tourism increase continues
Brighton’s iconic Royal Pavilion Ice Rink has once again opened to the public for the festive season. As well as enjoying a skating session, visitors to the attraction can also enjoy a huge rink side bar and restaurant, with a 40m terrace, as well as explore Brighton’s shopping offering. Leader of Brighton and Hove City Council Coun Warren Morgan said: “We are delighted to welcome back the rink this year – it has become Brighton’s star winter attraction and something of a Christmas tradition. It draws people from far and wide to visit Brighton and enjoy the city’s unique Christmas appeal.”
LONDON’S tourism boom has continued during the second quarter of 2015, with the city welcoming a record 5.1m international visitors between April and June this year, six per cent more than the same period last year, according to the Office for National Statistics International Passenger Survey. Tourist spending over the same period was £3.2b, an eight per cent increase compared with the second quarter of 2014. Over the past five years (2009-2014), the number of overseas visitors coming to London has risen by 22.5 per cent. CEO at London and Partners Gordon Innes said: “The positive figures for the second quarter of 2015 bode well for another year of strong visitor numbers and spend across the city’s museums and art galleries, attractions, restaurants and hotels. “We constantly look for new ways to build and grow the city’s tourism offer which supports tens of thousands of jobs across the capital. “That work includes innovative campaigns promoting London to the world such as the launch of London’s Autumn Season of Culture and our hugely successful Guest of Honour campaign.”