More than a quarter of English tourism businesses reported a year-on-year improvement during the Christmas and New Year period, according to VisitEngland.
The tourism board’s new Business Confidence Monitor assessed the performance of accommodation providers across the country in 2009, discovering also that 42% reported the same level of business for the period.
The Monitor said that overall 44% of businesses reporting more guests in 2009 than 2008. Some 65% of caravan and campsites saw visitor numbers boosted while 47% of self-catering accommodation providers reported an increase in numbers.
Visit England’s chief executive James Berresford said: “VisitEngland already provides the industry with a raft of industry insights and research. However, we hope the results from a new regular study like this will help businesses to better understand the rapidly changing economic climate as it relates to tourism, and better prepare for those changes.
“Interestingly over 20% of businesses reporting an increase in numbers of guests say they were busier in 2009 because of their investment in marketing. In March, we launch England’s first national strategic tourism framework for ten years. By working together, pooling resources and expertise, I believe we can drive tourism in England forward, boost the industry, and support our partners in the year ahead.’
By Dinah Hatch
