UKinbound dismiss ‘nonsense’ growth figures

Friday, 13 Dec, 2005 0

UKinbound has dismissed figures from the Office of National Statistics which show a healthy increase in visitor numbers to the UK.

According to the government body’s International Passenger Survey, overseas visitor numbers over the past three months have climbed almost 400,000.

But UKinbound chief executive Stephen Dowd labelled the figures as “nonsense.”

In its monthly business barometer, which showed October visitor number down 9.2% on the same month last year and forward bookings down almost 8%, Dowd said “not one member” agrees with the optimistic outlook.

“There will always be some disparity in these survey results as IPS covers all overseas visitors whilst our much smaller business barometer has a greater emphasis on group travel,” he said.

“Nonetheless there are usually correlating trends. However, since the July incidents the difference between what is happening on the ground and the figures reported by IPS have grown out of all proportion.”

He said the IPS would “have us believe” arrivals has grown 390,000 while revenue has dipped 0.7%.

“With excess capacity in all sectors throughout this period, particularly at weekends, and targeted discounting still widespread, this is nonsense,” he insisted.

While accepting inbound tourism was not as badly affected as the domestic scene, UKinbound insisted its members’ business was still suffering and called for realistic figures to aid recovery efforts.

Dowd claimed the validity of the IPS had previously been doubted in 2004 by the department of culture, media and sport.

“Regrettably, the significant failings have still not been addressed,” he said. “It is perhaps time the IPS model was thoroughly overhauled so that our tourism businesses can have the data they need and deserve.”

UKinbound said the October figures were unexpected following slight improvements in September. It was unable to pinpoint a specific cause, citing a combination of factors including an increase in visa fees, hike in a long haul fuel supplements and fragile consumer confidence.

Report by Steve Jones