UK inbound visitor numbers on the slide
The number of foreign tourist arrivals to the UK stagnated in September, resulting in an overall drop during the key summer months.
Statistics compiled by UKinbound show an overall fall in visitor numbers of 4.5% for the key July-September quarter over summer 2006 and a 4.2% slump in forward bookings.
The body, representing 250 companies and organisations, warned that the UK continues to lose market share as an international destination.
“With the US dollar falling below $2.10 to the pound today, and likely to fall still further, we can expect demand from the US to be markedly curtailed,” UKinbound warned.
“With global oversupply of tourism products and demand from our two biggest markets almost certain to fall in the short term, our members face still competition in the coming months.”
UKinbound repeated its criticism of the government over tourism funding, saying: “Is it too much to ask that in return for £2.5 billion a year in tax revenue generated by inbound tourism, our government could just do two things we cannot do for ourselves – destination marketing and statistics.
“Successful businesses, especially exporters, rely on accurate data, but this government has continuously failed to provide the robust statistics we need.”
UKinbound quoted a 2004 report commissioned by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport – which is responsible for tourism – which made it clear the UK was not even meeting the EU minimum standard on tourism statistics. The 14 recommendations made and endorsed by the industry have not been implemented, according to the organisation.
Cuts in the budget for VisitBritain’s international marketing after 11 years of “stand still funding” also came under attack.
“We find it more than a little ironic that in the USA, where inbound tourism has been in decline for the last five years, the US Congress has just agreed to set up a federal National Tourism Office, reversing decades of responsibility being devolved to individual states,” said UKinbound.
“And one of the reasons cited for this change of direction is the excellent return on government investment in the UK achieved by VisitBritain.”
by Phil Davies
Phil Davies
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