Foreign tourists to Britain to rise by 300,000 in 2011
Britain is set to attract 300,000 more foreign visitors in 2011 despite continued global financial uncertainties.
That's the news from tourist board Visit Britain which said it expected inbound travellers to rise to 30m next year, 1% up on this year's total. The amount those tourists spend is also set to increase by 2% to £17.2b, up £0.34b. However VisitBritain said that this remained considerably lower in real terms than the record year of 2006, which saw spending of £18.4b at 2010 prices.
The growth comes despite a tough financial climate in many parts of Europe and North America, the two regions that account for 85% of all international visits to Britain.
VisitBritain warned that travellers' disposable income was therefore like to be hit by a global rise in commodity prices in 2011, as well as increasing taxes. However the relative weakness of Sterling against currencies like the Euro and the Dollar would help to make visits to Britain better value.
Events such as the impending royal wedding on 29 April, the Queen's diamond jubilee and the 2012 Olympic Games are also set to put a focus on the country, which VisitBritain aims to capitalise on with a series of campaigns to revitalise the image of the country in its core markets, as well as building awareness in developing markets like India and China.
Meanwhile inbound business trips have also regained some of the ground they lost in the global financial crisis, with visits up 4% in the year to October 2010.
Sandie Dawe, chief executive of VisitBritain said: "We are looking forward to an exciting and challenging 2011. The eyes of the world will be on Britain as we host the Royal Wedding and momentum will build as we near the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. We plan to roll out our new campaign this Spring with our industry partners, inviting the world to visit Britain. Our aim is to get Britain on the radar of those who have never travelled here and also to reinvigorate our appeal in core markets such as the USA and near Europe."
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By Neil Gerrard
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