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Eastern Europe to fuel 2006 visitor growth
Tourists from Eastern Europe, attracted by low cost flights, will play a major role in fuelling a 4.4% increase in visitor numbers to the UK next year, VisitBritain has predicted.
In a paper outlining prospects for 2006, the body said overseas arrivals will rise to 30.6 million, partly due to the number of no frills air links between Eastern Europe and the UK.
Eastern Europe, along with Asia, are expected to be the strongest performers over the next 12 months.
“Increasing services to regional airports is already resulting in rapid growth in inbound tourism, although largely in shorter-stay visits,” VisitBritain said.
But it warned: “The [overall] rate of growth will be moderate than the sharp increases seen during 2004 and early 2005.”
Forecasters said while the rate of growth from the US will slower, additional capacity – a result of carriers shifting seats from the overcrowded domestic US market to international routes – could lead to increased competition and lower fares.
Meanwhile, British Hospitality Association chief executive Bob Cotton again called on the government to take the inbound industry more seriously.
“We must continue to encourage more domestic short and long break holidays and are overseas marketing is critically important,” he said. “Do we have the resources to take full advantage of the opportunities presented? This is a tall order, made more difficult by the niggardly government funding for VisitBritain.
“If we are serious about reaching the £100 billion tourism value target by 2010, which will benefit the treasury so significantly, more investment in tourism promotion is surely needed.”
Report by Steve Jones
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