Tourism

Industry gears up for BHA Hospitality and Tourism Summit

29-May-2014 By Melodie Michel

With the British Hospitality Association’s (BHA) annual summit just a few days away, speakers and delegates are preparing to discuss the future of the industry.

Stay-at-home holidaymakers to boost UK economy by £108bn by 2017

23-May-2014 By Lauren Houghton

A recent report from Barclays shows that Britons who holiday in the UK will contribute £108bn to the economy by 2017, which will help the hospitality and leisure sector to grow by more than a quarter in the next four years. 

London more visited in 2013 than in Olympics year

08-May-2014 By Melodie Michel

London welcomed 16.8m international visitors in 2013, surpassing a 2012 performance boosted by the Olympics and the Queen’s Jubilee.

Foreign tourism annual spending set to rise 34% by 2017

02-May-2014 By Lauren Houghton

Barclays’ Tourist Dynamics report 2014 estimates that spend on hospitality is set to rise rapidly by 2017 as spending from growing numbers of foreign tourists is predicted to reach over £27bn.

Positive tourism backdrop for new Culture Secretary

10-Apr-2014 By Luke Nicholls

The hospitality and tourism sector has welcomed Sajid Javid into his new role as Culture Secretary, with Maria Miller’s replacement coming in at a time when the 'staycation' trend remains strong and international visitor spend has hit record...

Euromonitor highlights four key trends for UK travel and tourism

20-Mar-2014 By Carina Perkins

The HS2 rail link, travel gadgets, ageing UK population and peer-to-peer sharing are set to have a profound impact on UK tourism in coming years, according to Euromonitor International.

Treasury rejects VAT cut despite cross-party support

11-Feb-2014 By Carina Perkins

Treasury minister David Gauke has rejected a call for tourism VAT to be cut to 5 per cent, despite 28 MPs from all parties gathering to support the measure during today’s Commons debate. 

Continued growth for UK hotels as Glasgow's record-breaking run continues

22-Jan-2014 By Luke Nicholls

UK hotels ‘continued their upward trajectory’ last month, ending 2013 on a high. But those in Glasgow once again stole the show, recording their strongest December of all time. 

Tourism spend hits record levels

17-Jan-2014 By Carina Perkins

Tourism spend in the UK reached its highest ever level in the first 11 months of 2013, and could hit £20bn for the full year. 

Profitable Christmas on the cards as 10.1 million Brits plan overnight break

20-Dec-2013 By Luke Nicholls

Planned overnight trips this Christmas and New year are likely to generate some £1.9bn spend for the UK economy - around £1.6bn of which will be spent in England - according to VisitEngland’s latest Trip Tracker survey. 

Business boost for hotels in November, Glasgow steals the show

18-Dec-2013 By Luke Nicholls

UK hotel operators reported another period of impressive growth in November, with properties in Glasgow recording their strongest month for seven years.

Growing Tourism Locally campaign pays dividend for England’s tourism

17-Dec-2013 By Luke Nicholls

Tourism Minister Helen Grant has heaped praise on VisitEngland’s ‘Growing Tourism Locally’ campaign, having seen it generate an additional £98.2m in tourism spend and created 1,861 new jobs for the sector in its first year. 

What visitors want: ‘Dream activities’ for tourists revealed by VisitBritain

10-Dec-2013 By Luke Nicholls

The View from The Shard, a visit to Edinburgh Castle and a night out in Newcastle are among the top ‘dream activities’ cited by visitors to the UK in a new report released today by VisitBritain.

VisitEngland reveals tourism trends for the next decade

05-Dec-2013 By Luke Nicholls

Key opportunities that could ‘change the face of tourism’ in England over the next decade have been highlighted in a new report released today by national tourist board VisitEngland.

Jobs and growth: New report reveals true value of British tourism

21-Nov-2013 By Luke Nicholls

Tourism has become a ‘bedrock’ of the UK economy, generating a third of the UK’s new jobs between 2010 and 2012 and escalating in value to now be worth around £127bn – 9 per cent of the UK’s GDP.

Tourism boost for Britain as Osborne confirms relaxed visa rules for Chinese

14-Oct-2013 By Luke Nicholls

Chancellor George Osborne’s announcement that visa applications for Chinese visitors to the UK will be simplified has been welcomed by hospitality and tourism organisation’s alike, after years of campaigning about the issue.

Hospitality and tourism associations launch Campaign for Tourism to gain Government support

09-Oct-2013 By Emma Eversham

Thirty-three of the UK's hospitality and tourism associations, including the British Hospitality Association and the Tourism Alliance, have joined together to put pressure on political parties to include the industry within in their manifestos ahead...

The Big Hospitality Conversation: Restaurants targeted in next wave of jobs push

09-Oct-2013 By Luke Nicholls

Tackling youth unemployment and embracing a common approach to work placements, internships and apprenticeships in restaurants is the focal point of the latest Big Hospitality Conversation, being held on behalf of the British Hospitality Association (BHA)...

Tourist spend at its highest ever one year on from the Olympics

13-Sep-2013 By Luke Nicholls

Hospitality businesses across the UK will welcome the news that the nation’s tourism industry is booming, with the number of international visitors and the amount they are spending at an all-time high.

Cut Tourism VAT: Campaign group calls on regional communities for support

02-Aug-2013 By Luke Nicholls

Following recent reports of the ‘staycation’trend sweeping the UK, the tourism industry is now calling on regional communities across the country to back a campaign to cut tourism VAT from 20 to 5 per cent.

The Cavendish drops room rates by 15% to back Cut Tourism VAT campaign

24-Jul-2013 By Emma Eversham

The Cavendish in London is cutting its room rates by 15 per cent this summer to simulate the effect reducing VAT to 5 per cent throughout the hospitality and tourism sectors would have on the UK economy. 

VisitEngland reveals Excellence Awards 2013 finalists

14-May-2013

Northcote, Rockliffe Hall and The Drunken Duck Inn in Cumbria are among the finalists in the 2013 VisitEngland Excellence Awards, the national tourist board's annual awards designed to celebrate the best that the country has to offer.

Culture Secretary outlines strategy to grow UK tourism by 29%

30-Apr-2013 By Emma Eversham

Culture Secretary Maria Miller has outlined a strategy to help grow tourism to the UK by 29 per cent over the next seven years.

Visits to UK by Chinese tourists up 20% in year of record tourist spend

23-Apr-2013 By Emma Eversham

The number of visits from tourists from emerging markets rose sharply last year with a record 179,000 visitors from China spending £300m, contributing to £18.6bn of spend from tourists overall.

Fruitful February: Over £1bn spent by nearly 2 million visitors

12-Apr-2013 By Luke Nicholls

National tourist board VisitBritain has today welcomed a ‘bumper February’ with the latest figures from the International Passenger Survey (IPS) showing a 14 per cent rise in the number of overseas visitors and a 9 per cent increase in spend.

Government warned Budget 2013 policies do nothing to help UK tourism

21-Mar-2013 By Peter Ruddick

Hospitality trade bodies and those representing tourism and airline firms have slammed the Government for failing to announce policies in this week's Budget which will help attract more tourists to the UK.

New VisitEngland marketing campaign promotes rural breaks

26-Feb-2013 By Luke Nicholls

Hotels, restaurants and pubs in rural locations across England will welcome the news that the national tourist board has launched a new multi-channel marketing campaign designed to boost domestic tourism in 2013.

The 10-point action plan: Travelodge calls on Cable to back UK tourism

21-Jan-2013 By Luke Nicholls

Travelodge chief executive Grant Hearn has today written to Business Secretary Vince Cable, urging the Government to give more support for tourism by moving it from the Department of Culture Media & Sports to the Department for Business, Innovation...

UK tourism outperforms GDP during recession but visitor numbers fall

17-Jan-2013 By Luke Nicholls

As the UK continues to endure the longest double-dip recession since the 1950, the tourism industry has been ‘resilient’, outperforming the general economy and leading the way in terms of employment numbers. 

British tourist destinations should be exempt from EU red tape, argues former Tourism Minister

19-Dec-2012 By Peter Ruddick

John Penrose MP, the former Tourism Minister, is calling on the Government to put pressure on the EU and ensure British tourist destinations are exempt from marketing red tape when changes are made to European rules early next year. 

Tourism boost for Britain as Theresa May relaxes visa policy for Chinese visitors

13-Dec-2012 By Luke Nicholls

Yesterday’s announcement by Home Secretary Theresa May that the UK visa system is to be improved and applications from Chinese tourists and students are to be simplified has been hailed as ‘great news’ for the hospitality and tourism industries, with...

VisitBritain hails ‘spectacular year’ for UK tourism but 2013 outlook remains uncertain

30-Nov-2012 By Luke Nicholls

The London 2012 Olympics and Queen’s Diamond Jubilee have contributed to a record-breaking year for inbound UK tourism, injecting 18.7bn into the national economy. But the outlook for 2013 ‘are inevitably uncertain’, according to VisitBritain.

Robert Thompson becomes Isle of Wight ambassador, plans new hotel with restaurants

19-Nov-2012 By Luke Nicholls

Michelin-starred chef Robert Thompson is on a mission to transform the Isle of Wight into a top tourist destination with plans to open a new hotel and two restaurants at the seaside resort of Ventnor while becoming the island’s first ambassador under...

VisitEngland reveals new marketing campaigns ahead of English Tourism Week 2013

07-Nov-2012 By Luke Nicholls

National tourist board VisitEngland yesterday announced plans to launch eight new marketing campaigns next year in its bid to boost domestic tourism, also calling on the hospitality industry to get involved in English Tourism Week 2013.

Culture Secretary Maria Miller to praise UK tourism at World Travel Market

06-Nov-2012 By Luke Nicholls

Culture Secretary Maria Miller is to highlight that tourism is a ‘cornerstone of growth’ in the UK economy in what will be her first keynote speech on the sector at the World Travel Market in London this evening.

Visitor numbers fall during Olympics, 'golden opportunity' remains for hospitality

12-Oct-2012 By Luke Nicholls

With yesterday’s disappointing figures showing that the number of visitors to the UK fell in August, despite the Olympics, leading members of the hospitality and tourism industries have been quick to highlight the positives, insisting ‘we still have a...

ASK THE EXPERTS

How can I attract more tourists to my restaurant, hotel or pub?

24-Sep-2012 By Philip Britton

Philip Britton of UKinbound advises hoteliers, restaurateurs and publicans on how they can make the most of the inbound tourist market and ensure tourists are heading their way when they visit the UK.

August Bank Holiday: 3.6 million Brits plan holiday at home

23-Aug-2012 By Luke Nicholls

The forthcoming August Bank Holiday weekend will see 3.6 million Brits taking an overnight holiday in the UK, generating over £800m in tourism spend for the UK economy.

WTTC: Marketing campaigns not enough to grow UK tourism industry

22-Aug-2012 By Peter Ruddick

The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has warned the Government increased budgets for marketing campaigns promoting the UK tourism industry will not have the desired effect without changes to policies on visas, aviation and taxation.

World travel leaders to experience ‘Best of Britain’ as VisitBritain urges UK businesses to tap into emerging tourism markets

02-Aug-2012 By Luke Nicholls

An array of senior travel and tourism industry bosses from Brazil, Russia, India and China are heading to Britain for VisitBritain’s World Travel Leaders Summit taking place on 4-6 August. 

Hospitality businesses set for bumper month as over 10 million Brits plan holiday at home

26-Jul-2012 By Luke Nicholls

More than 10 million Brits – 21 per cent of the adult population – plan to make the most of the summer by taking at least one holiday or short break in the UK, with 8.9 million of those planning to take the trip in England.

Pubs to become mini tourist information centres in new pilot scheme

28-May-2012 By Peter Ruddick

Eight pubs in the Peak District & Derbyshire are to offer tourist information centre services as a pilot scheme is launched which will see visitor information points installed in bars across the area.

VisitEngland reveals Excellence Awards 2012 finalists

19-Apr-2012 By Emma Eversham

National tourist board VisitEngland has revealed the names of the hospitality businesses and individuals who have made the final shortlist for 15 award categories in its 2012 Awards for Excellence. 

English Tourism Week 2012 highlights importance of British hospitality

26-Mar-2012 By Luke Nicholls

National tourist board VisitEngland has reported the success of the first ever English Tourism Week, which saw hospitality businesses from across the nation play host to over 400 special events and promotions.

Campaign to promote UK tourism gets support from Prince Charles

12-Mar-2012 By Emma Eversham

English Tourism Week, VisitEngland's promotional campaign designed to raise the profile and importance of domestic tourism and showcase the value of the industry to local communities and to the national economy, has drawn the support of Prince Charles,...

BHA Northern chair joins calls against hotel 'bed tax' for York tourists

13-Feb-2012 By Peter Ruddick

Simon Kershaw, chairman of the northern region committee of the British Hospitality Association (BHA), has joined hoteliers in York calling for planned charges of up to £1 a night for tourists staying in the city to be dropped.

GTBS sustainable certification programme achieves nationwide endorsement

30-Jan-2012 By Luke Nicholls

The Green Tourism Business Scheme (GTBS) has become the first sustainable certification programme of its kind to be endorsed by all five National Tourism Agencies of the UK and Ireland.

Hotels and B&Bs to benefit from VisitEngland’s Growing Tourism Locally campaign

31-Oct-2011 By Luke Nicholls

Hoteliers and B&B owners throughout the UK will be welcoming the news that VisitEngland’s bid for additional funding from the Regional Growth Fund (RGF) has been successful.

British tourism set for record-breaking summer?

15-Aug-2011 By Kate Mead

Latest figures for inbound tourism and visitor spending suggest a record-breaking summer for Britain lies ahead, but experts say the recent riots are a concern for potential visitors.

Hotels and B&B's have best April in five years

01-Aug-2011 By Emma Eversham

Hotels, B&Bs and other accommodation providers in the UK reportedly had their best April in five years with the number of overnight trips taken by domestic tourists rising 5 per cent that month.