Spring is in the air and this year it’s set to be extra special. Along with the longer, lighter days and an abundance of bank holidays, England is hosting two once-in-a-generation events in May – the Coronation of King Charles III and the Eurovision Song Contest in Liverpool.   In addition, VisitEngland is celebrating English Tourism Week 2023 from 17 to 26 March. This year’s theme highlights the amazing people, places, history and experiences that help contribute to England’s vibrant tourism industry.   With major cultural events and new attractions, trails and accommodation options opening up across the country, spring 2023 offers plenty of opportunities to explore England’s vibrant array of travel experiences.   Major Events   The Coronation of King Charles III, London   6 – 8 May 2023 The coronation of Charles III will take place in Westminster Abbey on Saturday 6 May, with the Archbishop of Canterbury leading the service. Camilla will also be crowned as Queen Consort during the ancient religious ceremony, which has largely remained the same for 10 centuries. On Sunday 7 May, 10,000 Brits will be welcomed to the grounds of Windsor Castle for the Coronation Concert, which will see a world-class orchestra play interpretations of musical favourites fronted by fantastic entertainers. Monday 8 May will be a bank holiday in honour of the occasion. The concert will also be broadcast live across the BBC network for audiences to enjoy from home. Royal exhibitions taking place this spring include; The Queen and Her Corgis at The Wallace Collection in London (8 March – 25 June), Royal Connections at Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire (19 March – 30 July) and Crown to Couture at Kensington Palace in London (5 April – 29 October). www.royal.uk   EuroFest & Eurovision Song Contest 2023, Liverpool   1 – 14 May 2023 Liverpool will host Eurovision in 2023, on behalf of 2022’s winners, Ukraine. The international talent show brings together the best, brightest and quirkiest acts from around Europe and further afield. While the Grand Finale takes place on Saturday 13 May, there are actually nine shows taking place in front of a live audience, from 8 May. From 1 to 14 May, Liverpool will be hosting EuroFest, a cultural festival taking over the streets to bring together communities and visitors, creating a moment of collective cultural resilience with Ukraine and Europe. EuroFest will include Eurovision fan zones and events around the city so that those without tickets can still get in on the action and atmosphere. www.visitliverpool.com/eurovision-2023   New Attractions & Experiences   iFLY, London   Opening 10 March 2023 Replicating the exact experience of freefall, iFLY London Indoor Skydiving will arrive at The O2 to give visitors an unforgettable sensation of flying. The experience is open to all ages and abilities and will give budding daredevils the chance to enjoy human flight without so much as a parachute. www.iflyworld.co.uk/locations/ifly-london-at-the-o2   The BBC Earth Experience, London   30 March – 31 July 2023 Following the success of the award-winning series Seven Worlds, One Planet, the BBC is launching the BBC Earth Experience, a transformative audio-visual experience that takes visitors through the wonders of the natural world across the seven continents, right in the heart of London. The experience will feature bespoke narration from Sir David Attenborough and showcase breath-taking footage and music projected on multiple-angle screens using the very latest digital screen technology. www.bbcearthexperience.com   270 Climbing, Cotswolds   Opening April 2023 270 Climbing, a world-class climbing park with sports and adventure activities is coming to the Cotswolds this spring. The centre will be opening in a phased approach with a range of indoor and outdoor activities for all ages and abilities. It’s set to become an exciting attraction for the local region and offer a vibrant facility for climbers as well as families, groups and clubs. www.270climbing.com   Canvas Yard, Leeds   Opening 30 April 2023 A new outdoors events space will open its doors in the city of Leeds this April. Canvas Yard will play host to the city’s FAC51 Hacienda music event with artists such as Roger Sanchez and The Garden Party. This new space will be a must for ravers old and new and is set to be one of the best music venues in the city. www.canvasyard.co.uk   Reopening of Bishop Auckland to Stanhope Railway Line, County Durham   Opening 22 April 2023 The 16-mile railway line between Bishop Auckland and Stanhope will reopen on 22 April to coincide with the popular Bishop Auckland Food Festival (22 – 23 April 2023) which attracts around 30,000 visitors every year. Visitors will be able to use the re-established rail service to explore the Durham Dales and it will facilitate easier accessibility between the two locations. www.aucklandproject.org   Gameshow Studios, London   Opening spring 2023 A brand-new experience is bringing the golden age of TV gameshows to the masses. In teams of two to six, contestants share a booth and answer live questions using all the fancy-pants tech, tense music and bright lights that TV gameshows are famous for– including that essential fastest-finger-first buzzer. Food and drink will be served at booths in the 250-capacity venue. Location TBC. www.gameshow-studios.co.uk   New Tours, Trails & Outdoor England Experiences   Pier to Pier Way, North Somerset   Opening early April 2023 A new 13-mile (21km) cycle route will link Weston-super-Mare and Clevedon. Featuring quiet roads and traffic-free sections and forming the central section of the North Somerset coastal towns cycle route, the Pier to Pier Way is for commuters, leisure cyclists and tourists. www.n-somerset.gov.uk/business/regeneration-development/pier-pier-way   Wonders of Whinlatter Trail, Lake District   Opening April 2023 The Wonders of Whinlatter Trail will be an immersive and engaging multi-user trail which tells the story of England’s only mountain forest and also highlights what makes the Lake District UNESCO World Heritage Site so special. With nine key areas across the five-kilometre trail, visitors will enjoy not only a peaceful forest experience, but also the fascinating story of Whinlatter. www.cumbriatourism.org   Walk Scilly, Isles of Scilly   15 – 21 April 2023 Now in its 16^th year, the much-loved annual walking festival ‘Walk Scilly’ returns to the enchanting Isles of Scilly in spring 2023. The festival, which celebrates the coast paths, beaches, gardens and farmland of Scilly, offers visitors a chance to explore the archipelago through a series of carefully curated guided walks. As ever, reflecting the island’s intrinsic link to the natural world, wildlife and conservation feature prominently on the programme. www.visitislesofscilly.com/experience/whats-on/walk-scilly   Shropshire Castle Cycling Tour, Shropshire   Launching May 2023 Specialist Shropshire cycling tour operator Wheely Wonderful Cycling has a new extended five-day, four-night cycle tour. The theme of the tour is castles, featuring sites in Clun, Montgomery and Ludlow. The moderate cycling route covers approximately 134 miles and features many historical sites and villages with plenty of charm. www.wheelywonderfulcycling.co.uk/product-page/shropshire-castles-4-days   Spalding Flower Parade, Lincolnshire   13 May 2023 The fields around the Lincolnshire town of Spalding were once awash with dazzling spring colours, thanks to the area being at the centre of Britain’s tulip growing industry. It was a crop celebrated with a world-famous Flower Parade, until it ended 10 years ago. Now, the famous floral festival is set to bloom again. While the tulip fields may have gone, over 200 million stems a year are still grown here in glasshouses. www.spaldingflowerparade.org.uk   Tibetan Discovery Weekend at RHS Garden Rosemoor, Devon   26 – 28 May 2023 North Devon’s RHS Garden Rosemoor will welcome eight Tashi Lhunpo Monks as part of their 50^th Anniversary Year tour. Over three days they will construct a Sand Mandala, culminating in a special blessing on the Sunday afternoon. The occasion will also allow visitors to hear monastic music and learn about their traditional dress. www.rhs.org.uk/gardens/rosemoor   RHS Chelsea Flower Show, London   23 – 27 May 2023 RHS Chelsea Flower Show is known as the world’s greatest flower show, full of cutting-edge garden designs, seasonal floral displays and endless shopping. In 2023, it’s all about how gardens and gardening can help boost our health and wellbeing, with a focus on how gardens can have a restorative effect on us and the environment. Expect to see gardens that help socially deprived communities connect with nature and with each other, hospital gardens, and gardens inspired by brownfield sites. www.rhs.org.uk/shows-events/rhs-chelsea-flower-show   The Cartford Inn and Bowland & Bay Artisan Foodie Tours, Lancashire   Launched 2023 New for 2023, discover the taste of rural Lancashire on a foodie getaway tour from award-winning Cartford Inn and Bowland & Bay Artisan Foodie Tours. These dedicated events take place throughout the year and focus on different aspects of food on offer in the area surrounding The Cartford Inn, with an opportunity to meet the producers. Each tour takes six hours, and is followed by a three-course dinner, overnight stay and breakfast at this stylish inn. Up-and-coming spring tours include 30 March, 13 April and 27 April 2023. www.thecartfordinn.co.uk/foodie-getaway-tours-2023   Cultural Events & Exhibitions   Julian Stair: Art, Death and the Afterlife, Norwich   18 March – 17 September 2023 Leading ceramic artist, Julian Stair OBE, presents new works in Art, Death and the Afterlife at The Sainsbury Centre in Norwich. From 12 March the Centre will become the first museum in the UK to adopt a ‘Pay If and What You Can’ ticketing scheme, aiming to open up a world of art to more people. Created in response to the global pandemic, Stair offers commemoration and solace for those who have died and those who have lost loved ones. Around thirty new artworks by the artist, including monumental figural forms, will invite the visitors to contemplate the relationship between the clay vessel and the human body. They will be presented alongside objects from the Sainsbury Centre Collection, selected by the artist to communicate the universality of death as aesthetic inspiration and philosophical inquiry. www.sainsburycentre.ac.uk   Folio 400 Celebration, Nationwide   25 March – 5 November 2023 To celebrate the 400^th anniversary of Shakespeare’s First Folio, a book that collected 36 of Shakespeare's plays together in a single volume for the first time, several events will be happening across the country. On Shakespeare’s birthday, Royal Museums Greenwich is offering special tours of their Tudor and Stuart Seafarers Gallery and the Queen’s House, alongside a display of a copy of the Folio itself. Additionally, the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust in Warwickshire will launch a new exhibition exploring the long-lasting legacy of this special volume, featuring one of the original Folios. www.shakespeare.org.uk/visit/whats-on/shakespeares-first-folio-at-400   Flower Fairies, Lady Lever Art Gallery, Wirral   15 April – 5 November 2023 To mark the 100-year anniversary of Cicely Mary Baker’s first book, Flower Fairies of the Spring, the Lady Lever Art Gallery is hosting an exhibition featuring around 45 of Baker’s original illustrations alongside digital projections and costumes inspired by the fairies, designed by Vin Burnham. www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/whatson/lady-lever-art-gallery/exhibition/flower-fairies-tm   Dragcaster at Muncaster Castle, Lake District   29 April 2023 2023 sees Muncaster’s first drag festival, Dragcaster, take place over the Early May Bank Holiday weekend. Bringing a touch of flamboyance to Muncaster, the festival will celebrate all things drag, with performances, music, makeovers and more. www.muncaster.co.uk   Cotswolds Wool Weekend, Gloucestershire   29 April – 1 May 2023 This new Cirencester event will celebrate the Cotswolds’ wool heritage, bringing together exhibitors, fibre artists, indie dyers, demonstrations, talks, workshops and wool walks, all recognising the journey from farm to fibre. www.cotswoldwoolweekend.com   Luxury and power: Persia to Greece at the British Museum, London   4 May – 13 August 2023 This major exhibition at the British Museum will explore the relationship between luxury and power in the Middle East and southeast Europe between 550-30 BC. Drawing on exquisite objects and star loans, including the Panagyurishte Treasure from Bulgaria, it will explore how the royal Persian court used luxurious items as markers of authority, defining a style that was copied by social classes throughout the empire. www.britishmuseum.org   Van Gogh Alive at Brighton Dome, East Sussex   12 May – 6 August 2023 Brighton Dome’s Grade I and II listed Corn Exchange and Studio Theatre has recently been refurbished and is set to host the Van Gogh Alive for its first event to welcome back visitors. The multi-sensory experience will explore the life and work of the seminal Dutch artist Vincent Van Gogh. Over 3,000 images will be displayed, including iconic works such as Sunflowers and lesser-known paintings. www.brightondome.org   The Late Shows, NewcastleGateshead   19 – 20 May 2023 Newcastle and Gateshead’s free late-night culture crawl is back in May 2023 with museums, galleries, studio collectives and landmark historical buildings opening after hours to offer hands-on workshops, behind-the-scenes tours, performances and parties. It's the perfect way to sample the best of Newcastle and Gateshead's cultural offer in short taster visits. Free admission. www.thelateshows.org.uk   Hot Beds – New Accommodation   Malmaison, Manchester Deansgate   Opening March 2023 With views of the iconic Albert Square and Manchester Town Hall, the Malmaison Manchester Deansgate will have 70 guest rooms paying homage to the retro designs of the 60s and 70s. The hotel will also feature its famous Chez Mal Brasserie alongside SORA, a rooftop garden offering panoramic views of the city. www.malmaison.com/locations/manchester-deansgate   Hedingham Castle, Essex   Opening March 2023 Live like a king and stay in a fortified stone tower that was built over 900 years ago. This Norman Keep will be the new addition to Hedingham Castle’s accommodation offering and give guests the chance to sleep in a four-poster bed with views of the Essex countryside. Prices will start from £490 per night. www.hedinghamcastle.co.uk   Forty Seven, Manchester   Opening May 2023 Located in vibrant Peter Street, Forty Seven is set to be one of Manchester’s most luxurious hotel openings this year. The hotel will offer 32 bedrooms and will house Asha’s, an Indian cuisine restaurant run by the legendary Bollywood star Asha Bhosle. www.fortysevenmanchester.co.uk   New sustainable treehouses at Elmore Court, Gloucestershire   Opening 24 May 2023 In celebration of the 10^th anniversary since its opening as a wedding venue, the award-winning Elmore Court will open six new sustainably built treehouses. This will allow visitors beyond those attending private functions to stay on the estate. Each treehouse will operate as a self-serviced holiday let and will feature electric car charging points, cork flooring, poplar ply walls and British cedar cladding with corrugated roofs. www.elmorecourt.com/journal/treehouse-update   The Three Horseshoes, Somerset   Opening spring 2023 A 17^th century coaching inn in the quaint village of Batcombe, Somerset, is undergoing restoration to offer guests a round of drinks, a bite to eat and a place to stay overnight. The face behind this pub with lodgings is Margot Henderson OBE, one of Britain’s most respected and acclaimed chefs, who is hoping to provide guests with heartfelt food using produce from local farmers. www.thethreehorseshoesbatcombe.co.uk   Raffles London at The OWO, London   Opening spring 2023 London’s first Raffles launches as an ultra-luxury hotel in the iconic, Grade II-listed Old War Office on Whitehall. The building is being reborn as The OWO, a flagship hotel with 120 rooms and suites, nine destination restaurants and bars, an immersive spa and a grand ballroom. www.theowo.london   Mandarin Oriental Mayfair, London   Opening spring 2023 Mandarin Oriental’s second London hotel will open on Hanover Square, the oldest square in Mayfair. The new five-star hotel will be a calming and discreet sanctuary with a vibrant, contemporary atmosphere. Expect the brand’s legendary service and respect for tradition to shine through. www.mandarinoriental.com/en/london/mayfair   Bike and Boot, Peak District   Opening spring 2023 Bike and Boot will open their second hotel in the beautiful surroundings of the Peak District’s Hope Valley. Their Scarborough hotel won Best Hotel Interior Design of the Year at the Northern Design Awards 2020, so expect the new hotel to be just as thoughtfully designed and created. An outdoor lovers’ type of hotel company based across the North of England with future sites in the Midlands, Wales, and Scotland, Bike and Boot are relaxed, quirky, contemporary and inclusive – so bring your dog, bike or surfboard. www.bikeandboot.com

VisitBritain rolled out its new multi-million pound international tourism marketing campaign for 2023. The international GREAT Britain marketing campaign invites visitors to 'See Things Differently', showcasing Britain as a diverse destination. This first phase has a budget of £9.8 million and runs until early spring in core markets. These include the US, Canada, the GCC and European markets. In Europe and the GCC, the 'See Things Differently' advertising campaign – 'Spilling the Tea on Great Britain' features images and short films. In Canada and the US the campaign, called 'Fake (Br)it Till You Make It,' highlights the regional diversity. The phased advertising campaign gets underway with a variety of local phrases used alongside destination images from across Britain. Later in March, a series of short films sees Brits sharing a warm welcome in local accents.

VisitBritain is gearing up to host annual inbound tourism trade event ExploreGB. It is underway from 27 February to 3 March. ExploreGB Virtual brings together more than 200 global buyers to connect online with 320 tourism industry suppliers and destinations across Britain. The five-day programme gives destinations and suppliers the chance to promote their products and services to top global buyers. There will be buyers from more than 20 countries, including Australia, China, the GCCand the US. More than 10,000 pre-scheduled one-to-one virtual business meetings will take place. VisitBritain CEO Patricia Yates said: "Our priority is to build back international visitor value.” “ExploreGB is a timely opportunity to work with our travel trade partners."  Later this month VisitBritain is also set to launch its new GREAT Britain campaign in global markets. The campaign encourages visitors to 'See Things Differently,'. The campaign will also capture major events in 2023 including the King Charles III Coronation in May, and Liverpool hosting the Eurovision Song Contest, on behalf of Ukraine. VisitBritain's latest forecast for 2023 is for overseas visitor spending of £29.5 billion, up 4% on the all-time spending high of £28.4 billion in 2019.

VisitBritain will host over 120 international travel trade buyers for educational visits. From 28 January, itineraries begin to destinations across England, Wales and Scotland. They showcase the latest tourism products to international buyers. Buyers from 16 international markets will participate. These include the UK's top three markets, the US, France and Germany. VisitBritain CEO Patricia Yates said: "We are delighted to be showcasing Britain to drive bookings.” "Working with the international travel trade is crucial to ensuring they are ready to sell Britain." All itineraries include London before visits to destinations including Manchester, Liverpool and the Lake District. Others include Bath, Bristol and the Cotswolds and Newcastle and Northumberland. The hosted visits are part of the 'Showcase Britain' event, which gets underway with a networking event on 26 January. VisitBritain's latest forecast for 2023 estimates 35.1 million inbound visits to the UK.

VisitBritain published its UK inbound tourism forecast for 2023. It forecasts continued strong recovery in overseas visitor spending. The report shows spending will grow faster than visitor volume, with higher spending per trip. Its overall forecast is for spending of £29.5 billion in 2023, up 4% on the record high in 2019. Over 35 million visits are forecast, which is 86% of the 40.9 million in 2019. UK Tourism Minister Stuart Andrew said:” It is fantastic to see that tourism is continuing to bounce back strongly.” VisitBritain will launch a new GREAT Britain marketing campaign across Europe, the GCC and the US in early 2023. It inspires visitors to ‘See Things Differently.’ The campaign will showcase major events including the Coronation of King Charles III in May, with an additional Bank Holiday announced, and Liverpool hosting the Eurovision Song Contest. VisitBritain’s research earlier in 2022 showed that exploring Britain’s history and heritage is the top motivator for international travellers. Inbound tourism was worth more than £28 billion to the UK economy in 2019, its third largest service export.

VisitBritain announced a second round of funding for Destination Management Companies and inbound tour operators. The £450,000 DMC and Inbound Tour Operator Amplification and Distribution Fund allows eligible companies to apply for grant funding. The fund is open to operators who can develop and market new British itineraries. It focuses on driving tourism across more of Britain aimed at the fund's target markets. The markets include Australia, Europe, the Americas, GCC, Australia, Hong Kong, India, Japan and South Korea. VisitBritain CEO Patricia Yates said: “We are delighted to support DMCs and inbound tour operators drive bookings in 2023.” "As well as building back inbound visitor spending, we want to broaden travel itineraries." DMCs and inbound tour operators who meet the qualifying criteria can apply for individual grant awards of about £40,000. Applications are now open until 15 December for activity to run from February to June 2023.

Marketing consortium, Pride of Britain Hotels marks its 40th birthday with the launch of '40 WINKS: 40 Sleep Specials' across its member hotels this autumn. A series of brand new sleep packages have been developed each individual hotel. Whilst every package is different, the common thread is the delivery of a great night's sleep. There is a huge variety of packages offeredr wiith each one is tailored appropriately to the environment and clientele of the particular hotel. At Bovey Castle on Dartmoor, the package includes a mindful walk, wild swimming, forest bathing or a hike followed by a relaxing aromatherapy massage. At the Athenaeum in Mayfair, the emphasis is on escaping the city to enjoy views and luxury pamper products. At Gravetye Manor in Sussex, a 90 minute de-stress and sleep treatment is followed by a relaxing sleep, walk in the gardens and dinner in the Michelin-Star dining room. Pride of Britain has seen a shift in customer need since the pandemic, with an emphasis on wellness, health, exercise and sleep routines. The offers are applicable to stays from 1 September - 30 November 2022. www.prideofbritainhotels.com/special-offers/40-winks

  The Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, taking place from 28 July to 8 August, is fast approaching and VisitBritain is ramping up its international activity to drive visits in the run-up to the Games and beyond.   It is hosting more than 40 top travel buyers, tour operators and trade media from Australia, Canada and India on educational visits to Birmingham and the West Midlands during the Games, in partnership with the West Midlands Growth Company.   The trade visits, which range from five-to-eight days, get underway from 25 July. As well as attending sporting events at the Games, the international buyers are visiting destinations and visitor attractions across the West Midlands, from a river cruise exploring Shakespeare’s Stratford-Upon-Avon, a culinary course in the heart of Birmingham’s Balti Triangle to a trip back in time at the Black Country Living Museum in Dudley.   The international buyers are also meeting to do business with British travel trade suppliers and destinations during the Games as part of a dedicated ‘Tourism Day’ on 5 August. The trade showcase, hosted by VisitBritain in partnership with the West Midlands Growth Company, is part of the programme of events at UK House, The Commonwealth Business Hub, led by the Department for International Trade. Britain’s ability to host world-class sporting events will be in the global spotlight during the Games and the Tourism Day will see leading industry stakeholders come together to highlight the importance of major events to the visitor economy, harnessing opportunities to drive tourism across the nations and regions.   Commonwealth Games Minister Nigel Huddleston said:    "The Commonwealth Games are an excellent opportunity to showcase Birmingham and the Midlands to the world.    "Our activity working with international buyers and tourism companies is a crucial part of our legacy plans to ensure the benefits of the Games are felt in the region for many years to come."   VisitBritain CEO Patricia Yates said:   “We are delighted to be hosting international travel buyers and media to destinations across the West Midlands during the Games, showing that Britain is packed full of fresh and exciting experiences to come and enjoy right now and that our industry is ready to welcome back visitors and provide a first-class experience.   “Working with the international trade, building product knowledge and ensuring they are ready to sell Britain, is crucial to driving bookings and spending. We also want to broaden travel itineraries, encouraging visitors to stay longer, explore further and boost visits across the shoulder seasons, supporting local businesses and economies.   “We know there is pent-up demand for travel and major sporting events are a proven tourism draw. The Games, set to be watched by a global audience of hundreds of millions, will also show our hospitality and warm welcome to the world as well as Britain’s ability to host events of the highest calibre.”   West Midlands Growth Company Chief Executive Neil Rami said:   “There is surely no better way to truly get to know a destination than by experiencing it in person. Working with our VisitBritain colleagues in the UK and across the Commonwealth, we have created several exciting and varied multi-day West Midlands itineraries for our international trade and media visitors, which show off the very best of the region’s cultural, culinary, accommodation and sporting highlights.   “Following a challenging period for our tourism businesses, the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games will provide a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to present the West Midlands to a huge worldwide audience.   “Across the Games fortnight, we look forward to creating amazing memories for our groups of overseas guests, who we hope will then encourage many more new international visitors to come and find out what makes this region, its venues and its communities so special.”   The trade visits are part of VisitBritain’s activity in partnership with the West Midlands Growth Company through the Business and Tourism Programme (BATP). VisitBritain is running a three-year programme through the BATP in its major Commonwealth inbound tourism markets Australia, Canada and India to boost awareness of the West Midlands’ tourism offer.   VisitBritain’s activity across Australia, Canada and India has ranged from content partnerships with media, training in-country travel trade and hosting trade and press trips to the West Midlands, to harnessing countdown milestones and showcase events including The Queen’s Baton Relay visits to drive bookings to Britain.   Looking at wider promotion, VisitBritain has been running content internationally including on its dedicated Games’ website: www.visitbritain.com/birmingham2022 - inspiring visitors with activities and itineraries. Its ‘Welcome to Another Side of Britain’ GREAT marketing campaign is also harnessing the Games to drive visits, alongside this year’s other landmark events including the ongoing celebrations for HM The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and the ‘Unboxed’ creative events across the UK.   VisitBritain’s research shows the positive impact that major sporting events can have on a country’s international standing. Following the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympic Games Britain’s overall ‘nation brand’ improved, so did international perceptions of its welcome. Britain is already highly regarded for its sporting excellence and its sporting offer, ranking fourth-out-of-60 countries for this attribute in the 2021 Nations Brand Index.   Visitors who come to the UK to watch sport also stay longer and spend more, spending an average of £1000 compared to the all market average of £691 and staying 11 nights versus an all market average of eight. About 2.2 million visits to the UK annually include ‘going to live sports events’ with those visitors spending £2.3 billion in total during their stay.   Inbound tourism is the UK’s third largest service export, worth more than £28 billion to the economy in 2019.     Please see below some quotes from international travel trade and tour operators who will be taking part in the educational visits to the West Midlands during the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games:   Canada:  

• Craig Canvin, Senior Vice President - Goway Travel, said: “Britain continues to be a premiere destination for Canadian consumers. Canadians enjoy the arts and culture, food and drink, history and heritage – as well as major sporting events. I am excited to be attending  the upcoming Commonwealth Games and the opportunity to explore the products and experiences in Birmingham and the West Midlands.”

  Australia:  

• Tim Holden, Business Leader - Product Design & Delivery, Tourism Board Partnerships - Flight Centre Travel Group said: “Britain has always been a key market for Australia, us Aussies just can't get enough. Even after more than two years of restricted travel, the UK is already back as our number one best-selling international destination. So many of us travel throughout Britain to visit friends and relatives that the UK has always been a second home for our market, a launch pad for European adventures and a leading bucket-list tourism destination in its own right. Personally, I can't wait to get back and explore the West Midlands.  I'm beyond excited to visit the area, attend the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games and bring back the full experience to my team.”

  India:  

• Shishir Khambete, Vice President - Leisure Travel Outbound, Thomas Cook (India) Limited said: "The UK continues to be a favourite for our Indian consumers across segments – be it leisure, business, MICE and business leisure. Sporting events are playing a key role in tourism’s revival and growth and I am excited about the upcoming Commonwealth Games visit hosted by VisitBritain, and also to exploring new locales and experiences towards refreshing our product portfolio."
• Khushnooma Dastur Das, General Manager - FCM Travel said: “Already standing tall as the most inspirational and aspirational destination that offers a plethora of exciting sights and sounds for any visitor, Britain's treasure trove of unique products creates memories to be cherished forever. I am most eager to experience Britain's treasure trove this time with a visit to Birmingham, the West Midlands region and a mega event like the Commonwealth Games.”

  VisitEngland has announced the winners of its annual Awards for Excellence 2022, celebrating the best of the country’s tourism industry.   The 19 Gold Award winners were announced at an evening ceremony on 8 June hosted by broadcaster and author Clare Balding at the Library of Birmingham, in categories ranging from New Tourism Business of the Year to the Ethical, Responsible and Sustainable Tourism Award from the Resilience and Innovation Award to the Unsung Hero Award.   Gold, Silver and Bronze winners were selected from hundreds of tourism businesses across England including hotels, self-catering accommodation, B&Bs, glamping operators, attractions, restaurants, pubs and museums.   The prestigious VisitEngland Awards for Excellence, running for more than 30 years, celebrate and champion innovation, quality and best practice across the industry recognising businesses and individuals who raise the bar of England’s tourism offer.   Tourism Minister Nigel Huddleston said:   "Our superb tourism businesses offer something for everyone and the sector is one we can be proud of. It is fantastic to see so many hardworking businesses of all sizes recognised for their gold-standard contribution to English tourism and I congratulate all the winners."   VisitEngland Advisory Board Chair Nick de Bois said:   “It is wonderful to see the Awards event back in-person, giving us the opportunity to come together, celebrate and congratulate the best-of-the-best across England’s world-class tourism industry.   “From an accessible and inclusive sailing school to a family run rural glamping site and an immersive living museum, these awards highlight the outstanding quality, the innovation and the customer service excellence across our industry. All these businesses are winners in every sense.   “Millions of jobs and local economies depend on tourism and this year’s awards also highlight the dedication of tourism businesses as they rebuild, championing best practice and providing visitors with first-class experiences.”   Winners were announced in the Awards’ 15 ‘core’ categories as well as for four special awards, including ‘Outstanding Contribution to Tourism Award’, ‘Travel Content Award’, ‘TXGB Trailblazer Award’ and the ‘Tourism Superstar Award’.   The Outstanding Contribution to Tourism Award went to ‘The English Period Drama’ and the film locations used in these shows, in recognition of its valuable role in boosting domestic and inbound tourism to England.   The Tourism Superstar Award, run with the Daily Mirror, was awarded to George Finlay of Matlock Farm Park following a public vote and competition earlier this year.   The Travel Content Award, recognising the media’s important contribution in championing domestic tourism, was won by Ben Lerwill of National Geographic Traveller with his story ‘Pirates and prehistory on Devon’s southeast coast’.   The TXGB Trail Blazer Award went to the Rugby League World Cup 2021, in recognition of the event’s success in driving inbound bookings through the business-to-business platform, also benefitting the domestic market.   The Caravan and Motorhome Club was the headline sponsor of this year’s Awards, also sponsoring the ‘Experience of the Year’ category.  Barclays sponsored the ‘Accessible & Inclusive Tourism Award’ and Sykes Holiday Cottages the ‘Self-Catering Accommodation of the Year’ category. The Family Holiday Charity was the chosen charity for this year’s Awards event.   Tourism is one of England’s largest and most valuable industries, supporting hundreds of thousands of businesses, employing about 2.6 million people and, in 2019, generating £76 billion in domestic visitor spending.   VisitEngland Awards for Excellence 2022 Winners:   Accessible & Inclusive Tourism Award - sponsored by Barclays  

• Gold - Mylor Sailing & Powerboat School, Cornwall
• Silver - Alton Towers Resort, Staffordshire
• Bronze - Fleetwood Beach Wheelchairs, Lancashire

  B&B and Guest House of the Year  

• Gold - The 25 Boutique B&B, Devon
• Silver - Horseshoe Cottage Farm, Leicestershire
• Bronze - Brightham House Boutique Bed and Breakfast, Devon

  Camping, Glamping and Holiday Park of the Year  

• Gold - Secret Meadows, Suffolk
• Silver - Brook Meadow, Leicestershire
• Bronze - Landal Sandybrook, Derbyshire

​​​​​​​ Ethical, Responsible and Sustainable Tourism Award  

• Gold - Chichester Festival Theatre, West Sussex
• Silver - Pure Outdoor, Derbyshire
• Bronze - West Bay Discovery Centre, Dorset

​​​​​​​ Experience of the Year – sponsored by the Caravan and Motorhome Club  

• Gold - Mylor Sailing & Powerboat School, Cornwall
• Silver - Pure Outdoor, Derbyshire
• Bronze - All Hallows' Farmhouse Cookery School, Dorset

​​​​​​​ Large Hotel of the Year  

• Gold - The Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa, Bath
• Silver - Hotel Indigo Durham, County Durham
• Bronze - The Langham, London

​​​​​​​ Small Hotel of the Year  

• Gold - Seaham Hall, County Durham
• Joint Silver - No.15 by GuestHouse, Bath
• Joint Silver - The Idle Rocks, Cornwall

​​​​​​​ New Tourism Business of the Year  

• Gold - Three Mile Beach, Cornwall
• Silver - Triple A Food Tours, Tyne & Wear
• Bronze - Rowley Farm Holidays, Worcestershire

​​​​​​​ Pub of the Year  

• Gold - The Cotley Inn, Somerset
• Silver - The Acorn Inn, Dorset
• Bronze - The Devonshire Arms at Pilsley, Derbyshire

​​​​​​​ Resilience and Innovation Award  

• Gold - Black Country Living Museum, West Midlands
• Silver - Chester Zoo, Cheshire
• Bronze - Severn Valley Railway, Worcestershire

​​​​​​​ Self-Catering Accommodation of the Year – sponsored by Sykes Holiday Cottages  

• Gold - Treeopia, Worcestershire
• Silver - Glynn Barton, Cornwall
• Bronze - Pitt Farm Holiday Cottages, Devon

​​​​​​​ Taste of England Award  

• Gold - Lu Ban Restaurant, Merseyside
• Silver - Moor Hall Restaurant with Rooms, Lancashire
• Bronze - Fischer's Baslow Hall, Derbyshire

​​​​​​​ Unsung Hero Award  

• Gold - Adam Wardale, Middletons Hotel, North Yorkshire
• Silver - Neeshal Jeewon, Hilton London Metropole, London
• Bronze - Clive Goodwin, Ouseburn Trust, Tyne & Wear

​​​​​​​ Large Visitor Attraction of the Year  

• Gold - Chester Zoo, Cheshire
• Silver - Bletchley Park, Buckinghamshire
• Bronze - Pensthorpe, Norfolk

​​​​​​​ Small Visitor Attraction of the Year  

• Gold - Nothe Fort, Dorset
• Silver - Royal Liver Building 360, Merseyside
• Bronze - British Music Experience, Merseyside

​​​​​​​ Travel Content Award  

• Gold - Ben Lerwill, National Geographic Traveller: ‘Pirates and prehistory on Devon’s southeast coast’
• Silver - Cathy Toogood, The Telegraph: ‘Forget the countryside – this Northern powerhouse is the perfect place for summer staycations’
• Bronze - Lauren Jarvis, LoveExploring: ‘Explore the New Forest’

​​​​​​​ TXGB Trailblazer Award  

• Gold – Rugby League World Cup 2021
• Silver – Visit Gloucester
• Bronze – Mike James, Savouring Bath

​​​​​​​ Tourism Superstar 2022  

• Winner - George Finlay, Matlock Farm Park

​​​​​​​ Outstanding Contribution to Tourism Award  

• Winner - The English Period Drama

A VisitEngland survey says 5.3 million Brits are definitely planning an overnight holiday break in the UK during the extended Platinum Jubilee Bank Holiday weekend. It will hand an estimated £1.2 billion boost to the economy. VisitEngland’s ‘Platinum Jubilee Weekend Trip Tracker’ survey also showed that well over a third, or 19 million, are planning to take part in activities to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee. In addition, almost a quarter of those surveyed are still yet to decide. VisitEngland Chief Executive Patricia Yates said:” The long weekend is set to bring a much-needed boost to the industry and destinations as the summer season gets underway.” For overnight domestic breaks, the top destination type is ‘city or large town’ followed by ‘coastal town’. The survey also showed that a further 2.6 million people were undecided about whether to take an overnight trip in the UK during the long weekend. The top reasons were ‘waiting to see what the weather is like,’ ‘waiting to see if I can afford it’ and ‘not sure where I’d like to go.’

  A VisitEngland survey out today shows that 5.3 million Brits are definitely planning an overnight holiday break in the UK during the extended Bank Holiday weekend for the Platinum Jubilee, bringing an estimated £1.2 billion boost to the economy.   VisitEngland’s ‘Platinum Jubilee Weekend Trip Tracker’ survey also showed that well over a third, 19 million, are planning to take part in activities to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee, from attending a ‘Big Jubilee Lunch’ street party to lunch in a pub, restaurant or café, to watching events on an outdoor screen or attending official celebrations. In addition, almost a quarter of those surveyed were still to decide.   VisitEngland Chief Executive Patricia Yates said:   “The upcoming Bank Holiday is a fantastic opportunity for an extra special short-break at home or a day-out, enjoying the once-in-a-lifetime celebrations and show-stopping events for the historic Platinum Jubilee. From afternoon teas and street parties to beacon lighting ceremonies, pageants and parades, people are set to celebrate with friends and neighbours in royal style.   “The long weekend is also set to bring a much-needed boost to the industry and destinations as the summer season gets underway and our outstanding tourism businesses will be very pleased to welcome you back.”   Looking at those intending to take an overnight domestic break in the UK for the extended Bank Holiday weekend, the top destination type is ‘city or large town’ followed by ‘coastal town’.   The survey also showed that a further 2.6 million people were undecided about whether to take an overnight holiday trip in the UK during the long weekend. The top reasons were ‘waiting to see what the weather is like,’ ‘waiting to see if I can afford it’ and ‘not sure where I’d like to go.’   VisitBritain’s full Platinum Jubilee Trip Tracker survey can be accessed here:  https://www.visitbritain.org/sites/default/files/vb-corporate/trip_tracker_platinum_jubilee_2022_final_2022-05-25.pdf <http://link.visitengland.com/ ...>.   For information about events and celebrations across England during spring and summer to mark HM The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee including official events during the extended Bank Holiday weekend, please see: https://www.visitengland.com/queens-platinum-jubilee-spring-and-summer-celebrations-across-england-1   Notes to editors:  

• VisitBritain has estimated the loss to the economy in domestic tourism spending in Britain, in 2020 and 2021 combined, to be £97.1 billion. It estimates the loss from inbound tourism to the UK to be £50 billion.
• In May, VisitEngland announced the successful recipients of its Destination Management Organisation Marketing Recovery Fund <http://link.visitengland.com/ ...> to support tourism’s recovery in England. Running from mid-March to the end of June, the £1 million fund enables DMOs to tailor and align VisitEngland’s national ‘Escape the Everyday’ campaign <http://link.visitengland.com/ ...> to drive bookings of local tourism products.

  About VisitEngland’s Trip-Tracker Survey  

• VisitEngland commissions online omnibus surveys periodically in order to collect data on the number of GB consumers who plan to take an overnight trip at key times throughout the year.
• In this Platinum Jubilee edition, the survey was carried out in an online survey by Kantar TNS with a representative sample size of 1255 adults over the age of 16 years old in Great Britain.
• The fieldwork took place between 19th –23rd May 2022.
• Trip volumes are based on an adult (16+) population of 52.9 Million in GB (Office of National Statistics)
• For the full report visit our Bank Holiday Trip-Tracker page <http://link.visitengland.com/ ...>

From July 1 2022, L’Odyssey will operate a twice weekly service to the Normandy seaside town of Deauville. The flights depart London City Airport every Friday, with the return flight landing in the heart of London every Sunday – convenient for a weekend stay. This will be the only direct flight to Deauville from the UK. Deauville is a hugely popular domestic holiday spot in France. L’Odyssey will operate a full-service flight on a SAAB 340B, which has been reconfigured with 27 seats. Passengers will receive up to 30 kg baggage allowance as well as an in-flight snack. London City’s Head of Aviation, Anne Doyere said: “Deauville is an undiscovered gem for British holidaymakers and it has never been so easy to get there thanks to this new service from L’Odyssey.”