The European Travel Commission is forecasting modest recovery in the number of inbound visitors to the continent this year with the early recession levels of 2008 to be regained by 2011.
The association, which comprises 39 national tourism organisations including VisitBritain, expects overnight arrivals to Europe as a whole to grow roughly three per cent in 2010 following a six per cent decline in visits last year, then accelerate in 2011 “when 2008 levels will finally be regained.” UK arrivals in isolation were expected to grow by the same percentage.
In its second quarterly report on European Tourism in 2010 – Trends & Prospects, based on aviation and accommodation data and expectations, the ETC says that unlike past rebounds the recovery is mixed, with a roughly 50:50 split between countries showing visitor declines and increases.
Northern Europe, including the UK is showing greater contraction but the report puts the mixed picture partly down to the disruption caused by the Icelandic ash cloud which caused occupancy losses in some areas and gains in others.
But the ETC says it has reason to be “cautiously optimistic” for the remainder of the year with the Euro and Sterling having weakened against the dollar and the yen helping make both inbound and intra-European travel more attractive.
by Debbie Ward
