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US operators get to know the UK
BTA is taking 60 US tour operators for fam-trips around the UK.
The Market UK initiative has invited representatives from US operators to visit various towns and attractions that it thinks will suit their customers. The operators start their four-day trip in London on Saturday.
The aim is to improve their knowledge of Britain and boost visitor number from the US. BTA reported a 10% increase in visitors from North America during July this year, when compared to July 2001.
The BTA figures for 2001 show a majority of visitors from the US don’t venture outside London. Of the 3.58 million visiting the UK from the US in 2001, 67.8% visitors stayed in London. Weaker regions included Wales and Northern England, which received just 4.2% and 9.8% of US visitors in 2001. In these regions, operators will visit areas such as Cardiff, the Gower Peninsula, Newport and Brecon in Wales, and the Lake District National Park and Yorkshire in Northern England.
The operators will also visit Scotland, Central England, Cambridgeshire, the West Country, and the South and South East of England. Sites of interest include Edinburgh, Oxford, New Forest, Canterbury, Salisbury, Exeter and Exmoor.
The trips culminate in a Market UK workshop in London on Friday 27 September, when speakers from VisitScotland, the Wales Tourist Board, the London Tourist Board and England Overseas Marketing Partnership will give presentations.
The group will also be addressed by BITOA and have the chance to meet suppliers of hotel, car rental and flights, as well as representatives from various sites and attractions in the UK. Among those taking part are bmi british midland, English Heritage and National Trust.
Read our previous stories:
11-September-2002 The state of tourism
10-September-2002 Holidaymakers not afraid to fly
12-August-2002 Visitor numbers show steady improvement, but still down on last year
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