Incoming tour operators are urging the UK Government not to "squander" all the achievements of the Olympics.
As the London 2012 Games came to a close, UKinbound chief executive Mary Rance said complacency is not an option.
"Now is not the time to pat each other on the back and say job well done," she said.
"Along with the many successes and highlights, there have been some major disappointments including a significant reduction in the number of visitors to London and the UK compared to summer 2011.
"In fact, the job to attract visitors to the UK has only just started.
“If the Government is going to succeed in their ambition of welcoming 40 million visitors by 2020, there must be a genuine determination to attract overseas visitors at a time when the ‘Olympic’ effect no longer exists.”
She said rising Air Passenger Duty, a "risk-based" approach to processing of visas and a "real aversion" to making a decision on expanding airport capacity need be dealt with now "and with a real sense of urgency".
Her comments follow a national survey of UKinbound members carried out over the weekend.
The research, conducted in conjunction with Qa Research, found that for the period of 23 July to 12 August:
– 66% of members surveyed stated that year on year inbound tourism bookings or inbound tourism visitors numbers were significantly lower
– 22% stated they were slightly lower
– 59% of those who believed numbers were considerably lower stated they had seen decreases in excess of 10%
– 82% stated that bookings or visitor numbers were lower or significantly lower year on year for the post Olympic period 13 August to 9 September
– 72% of members agreed with the statement that ‘lack of accommodation for advanced booked groups in London had adversely affected destinations around the UK’ during the Olympics.
by Bev Fearis
