UKinbound calls for extra funding
UKinbound has called on the government to increase its tourism funding after London was chosen to host the 2012 Olympics.
Chief executive Stephen Dowd said the Olympics provided the “perfect platform” to aggressively market Britain overseas.
The capital was chosen to host the event after a nerve-shredding showdown with Paris in a final round of voting in Singapore.
Speaking moments after the announcement, Dowd said: “This is tremendous news. We will be working with VisitBritain and the government over the next few years to ensure we take full advantage. We need the right product and service to attract people who would otherwise not have come to Britain.
“VisitBritain has not had an increase in funding for around seven years. We will now be looking for the government to increase this and give them the kind of resources our competitors have.”
“While any increase would be welcome, we think it should be 50% higher than it is today.”
A VisitBritain spokesman said it was too early to discuss the issue of additional funding and stressed revenue would be generated by the Games, irrespective of whether the government released more funds.
Dowd said UKinbound will seek talks with the Department of Culture, Media and Sport, VisitBritain and the Tourism Alliance on how to exploit the opportunity.
He predicted that UKinbound members could expect an increase in revenue of between 5% and 10% in the years leading up to the Olympics and between 10% and 15% after the event.
Visit London meanwhile insisted the Games would further add to London’s resurgence as a world class tourist destination.
“In the last two years London has increased its share of global tourism,” said chief executive James Bidwell. “Between now and 2012 we will be focusing year on year to bring visitors to the capital, fully maximising the opportunities that holding the Olympic and Paralympic Games can bring.”
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 
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
Singapore to forbid entry to undesirable travelers with new no-boarding directive
Euromonitor International unveils world’s top 100 city destinations for 2025