Credit crunch warning from VisitBritain
VisitBritain is warning the volume of inbound tourism in 2008 will be below the figure achieved last year, blaming the current economic downturn on a reluctance of overseas visitors to travel to the UK.
The first half of next year is expected to be particularly slow, while annual growth in visits will pick up in the second half of the year, according to the organisation’s latest report, which says the value of inbound tourism will remain static in real terms during 2008.
The tourist board predicts that, although 2008 presents a “host of opportunities” to grow the inbound visitor market, including Liverpool becoming European Capital of Culture, the opening at Heathrow Terminal 5 and the handing over of the Olympic torch, the credit crunch will have a detrimental effect on travellers, particularly those from the US.
“With still no end in sight to the current turmoil in the global economy the prospects for inbound tourism in 2008 are not looking as good as they should,” says the report.
It adds that analysts continue to forecast further weakening in the value of the US dollar, which will make Britain even more expensive for American visitors.
UKinbound, which has already warned of a decline in US travellers, was among the contributors to the report.
Meanwhile, Enjoy England is to continue its City Breaks and Rural Escapes campaigns in 2008, in a bid to kick start domestic travel. Rural Escapes will run until May, while City Breaks will run until September.
Meanwhile, 18% of British adults are planning at least one overnight trip away over the coming fortnight. Of these, 62% plan to visit England, 13% Scotland, 3% Wales and 32% are planning to travel overseas.
By Lisa James
Phil Davies
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
Singapore to forbid entry to undesirable travelers with new no-boarding directive
Euromonitor International unveils world’s top 100 city destinations for 2025
U.S.A. and Israel attacks on Iran impact air movements in the Gulf (Update 1.00pm CET)
Global tourism exceeds 1.5 billion travelers announces UN-Tourism