Barclays predicts bumper year for UK hospitality
British hotels and the leisure industry are set for a record year with a substantial increase in both home and international visitors planning holidays in the UK.
Research by Barclays has found that the British tourism industry is set to benefit from a 30% rise in staycations and a big climb in interest in UK holidays from tourists worldwide.
Findings from the Barclays Corporate Banking report Destination UK: driving growth in the UK hospitality and leisure sector show that 63% of international tourists are more interested in UK holidays compared to last year.
Factors driving this interest include ‘The Crown Effect’ – TV shows featuring the UK, such as The Crown, which have driven interest in 22% of overseas visitors, particularly Chinese and US guests.
Advertising campaigns and the weaker pound are also having a positive effect.
Nearly a third (30%) of Brits are expecting to spend more of their holiday in the UK this year and 39% believe domestic holidays represent better value for money in 2017
Nearly a third (31%) of international tourists said they are more likely to visit the UK than before the Referendum result, while only 10% said they are less interested.
The research reveals that the average British budget for UK breaks is £800 with over a fifth (22%) of holidaymakers planning to spend more than £1,000 on their UK getaways.
During their staycations, Brits also expect to spend an average of £309 on accommodation, £152 on dining out and £121 on shopping.
Barclays head of hospitality and leisure Mike Saul said: "2017 looks set to be a strong year for the British hospitality sector with both domestic and international visitors increasingly intent on spending more time here.
"While the impact of a weak sterling, at least temporarily, has boosted the UK’s international appeal, underlying this increase is the quality of our hospitality industry today and the UK’s enduring appeal as a truly world class destination.
"Those holidaymakers who are more likely to visit today than 12 months ago are doing so for a range of reasons including the effect of UK operators’ advertising campaigns, the attraction of British TV programmes that have gone global and a case of simply having more money available to spend on holidays from which the UK is set to benefit."
Lisa
Lisa joined Travel Weekly nearly 25 years ago as technology reporter and then sailed around the world for a couple of years as cruise correspondent, before becoming deputy editor. Now freelance, Lisa writes for various print and web publications, edits Corporate Traveller’s client magazine, Gateway, and works on the acclaimed Remembering Wildlife series of photography books, which raise awareness of nature’s most at-risk species and helps to fund their protection.
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