Eastern Europe to fuel 2006 visitor growth
Tourists from Eastern Europe, attracted by low cost flights, will play a major role in fuelling a 4.4% increase in visitor numbers to the UK next year, VisitBritain has predicted.
In a paper outlining prospects for 2006, the body said overseas arrivals will rise to 30.6 million, partly due to the number of no frills air links between Eastern Europe and the UK.
Eastern Europe, along with Asia, are expected to be the strongest performers over the next 12 months.
“Increasing services to regional airports is already resulting in rapid growth in inbound tourism, although largely in shorter-stay visits,” VisitBritain said.
But it warned: “The [overall] rate of growth will be moderate than the sharp increases seen during 2004 and early 2005.”
Forecasters said while the rate of growth from the US will slower, additional capacity – a result of carriers shifting seats from the overcrowded domestic US market to international routes – could lead to increased competition and lower fares.
Meanwhile, British Hospitality Association chief executive Bob Cotton again called on the government to take the inbound industry more seriously.
“We must continue to encourage more domestic short and long break holidays and are overseas marketing is critically important,” he said. “Do we have the resources to take full advantage of the opportunities presented? This is a tall order, made more difficult by the niggardly government funding for VisitBritain.
“If we are serious about reaching the £100 billion tourism value target by 2010, which will benefit the treasury so significantly, more investment in tourism promotion is surely needed.”
Report by Steve Jones
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 
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Digital Travel Reporter of the Mirror totally seduced by HotelPlanner AI Travel Agent
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Strike action set to cause travel chaos at Brussels airports