Royal engagement is ‘great news for UK tourism’
Travel companies and associations have been quick to react to news that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are to marry.
After the news was announced, VisitBritain and the European Tourism Association said the news was great for UK tourism, while Sandals Resorts, which has twice hosted Prince Harry at its properties, has launched a royal engagement offer on bookings using the code ‘SHESAIDYES’.
ETOA chairman Mario Bodini said: "It’s great news for the UK.
"The last Royal wedding was a tremendous success; so why wouldn’t this one be too? The Royal family is much underrated in terms of its positive impact on tourism and the visitor economy. I’m sure the whole industry would want to congratulate the happy couple."
VisitBritain said tourism linked to Royal residences such as Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle generates more than £500 million a year and attracts more a 2.7 million visitors.
A VisitBritain spokesman said: "We congratulate Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on the news of their engagement.
"The Royal family are so important for tourism in London. Amongst the wealth of history and heritage on offer across the capital, the Royal palaces and parks are a firm favourite among visitors.
"2016 was a record year for the number of international visitors into London, and Royal heritage was a big part of driving that."
Stuart Ellis, chief commercial officer at JacTravel said: "Royal events in London always attract visitors to the capital so this happy news and the additional demand for accommodation that it will bring is very welcome news to the industry."
Meanwhile, Sandals has sparked the first of what is expected to be several royal engagement offers.
The operator is offering £200 off romantic breaks to the Caribbean on all bookings between Tuesday November 28 and Tuesday December 2017, using code ‘SHESAIDYES’.
Prince Harry visited Sandals Grande St Lucian Spa & Beach Resort in December last year and Sandals Royal Caribbean Resort & Private Island in Jamaica in 2012.
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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