SYDNEY – British Airways has reported a 14 percent increase in online travel queries from customers in Africa, Asia and the Middle East looking to visit London.
The airline says the fall in the value of the pound is giving people more incentive to visit the UK.
In Australia £1 was worth $1.79 this week as opposed to $2.33 this time last year – a fall of 22 percent.
New data from British Airways demonstrates the increased value for money that a visit to London now offers.
In the run up to Christmas 2008, two adults visiting London for a two-night weekend break could expect to spend in the region of $1,300 – this would have included accommodation, entry to the Tower of London and London Eye; dinner for two nights; travel cards for two days and tickets for a show.
Due to the strength of the Australian dollar compared to the £, visitors from Australia can now expect to save more than $298 with the same itinerary costing just $1,003.61.
Actual visits from China to the UK have increased by 44 percent, Argentina 157 percent, UAE by 186 percent, Saudi Arabia by 96 percent and South Africa 21 percent.
Plus the average amount spent by each tourist in the first quarter 2009 was 16 percent higher than Q1 in the previous year.
