Weak pound could boost UK tourism

Hospitality operators have been urged to take advantage of the weakening value of the pound to boost UK tourism.

Due to the falling value of sterling, British tourists visiting some European destinations are paying up to a third more for hotel rooms and food.

UK hospitality can use this trend to its advantage, according to industry leaders, who urged the Government to help the sector exploit the relative value of holidaying in this country – for both foreign and domestic tourists.

Kurt Janson, policy director at the Tourism Alliance, revealed that, along with VisitBritain, the industry body is lobbying the Government to put funding into an ‘Explore Britain’ marketing campaign in the New Year.

“The booking period for the summer market is March to April next year so we need to act very quickly on this,” he told Caterersearch.  “There’s a growing awareness – with everyone cutting back on expenditure - that it’s a very good time to market Britain as a budget option.

“It’s an opportunity for the sector to be cushioned from the continuing economic downturn next year,” Janson added. “We now have a competitive advantage which means we’ll be able to ride it out better than other destinations.”

Robin Bidgood, chief executive of Tate Catering, which caters at popular tourist locations such as the various Tate galleries and Somerset House, said he is already noticing the trend.

“At the moment we’re seeing a lot of tourists coming from Europe due to the great exchange rate for the euro against the pound,” he told Caterersearch.

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By Rosie Birkett

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