UK inbound tourism prospects improve

Prospects for inbound tourism to the UK continue to improve despite the Madrid bombings and other terrorist alerts. More than 3.5 million people visited the UK in the first two months of the year, a 10% rise on the same period in 2003, latest figures from VisitBritain show. The increase came on the back of campaigns by the tourist office and industry partners, including a six-month European short break campaign which attracted 1.75 million potential visitors from 11 countries to website featuring the promotion. A push in the US for out of season trips saw three night city breaks being sold for $278 including return flights. VisitBritain chief executive Tom Wright said: “This is evidence that pent-up demand for Britain is being released and the 10% rise in North American visits gives further cause to be optimistic. Barring further international incidents, industry prospects continue to improve.” If demand is maintained then VisitBritain’s forecast of a 3.3% rise in visits and a 3.4% increase in spending this year “look achievable”, according to Mr Wright. British Incoming Tour Operators Association chief executive Stephen Dowd echoed the comments, saying: “The positive trend of recent months continued in February with all sectors reporting increases in visitor numbers and forward bookings. “Bookings held firm after the dreadful events in Madrid and it would seem that the public now understand that terrorist activity can happen anywhere, at any time, and that they cannot put their lives on hold indefinitely. Over 80% of members expect inbound tourism to grow in 2004, with 36% sure it would ‘grow significantly’.” But Mr Dowd warned that widely reported comments by London Mayor Ken Livingston and the Metropolitan Police Commissioner have had an imapct on consumer confidence, resulting in group cancellations from North America, Italy and Scandinavia. “We hope, and expect. that that is a minor blip on an otherwise positive outlook,” said Mr Dowd. British Hospitality Association chief executive Bob Cotton said his sector was more positive in the approach to Easter. But he sounded a note of caution: “Britain’s exchange rate against the American dollar could still impact on arrivals from North America, but signs of recovery for the US economy – highlighted by positive employment figures – give us confidence for the future.” However, he admitted that the picture for London hotels was “uncertain”. Report by Phil Davies