Uk Inbound Tourism News
Manchester Airport welcomes record passenger numbers in September
A record-breaking total of 2,430,142 people travelled through Manchester Airport in September 2015, making it the busiest September in the airport’s 77 year history. The year-on-year total was up 5.44 per cent on the same month last year, which moved the rolling annual total for the North’s major international airport to a new all-time high of 22,875,884.
Breaking Travel News investigates: Staybridge Suites, Liverpool
Located on the famous King’s Waterfront in Liverpool only 200 metres from Albert Dock, Staybridge Suites Liverpool is ideal for business travellers and leisure guests looking for a welcoming ‘home away from home’. The 132 studio and one-bedroom suite hotel offers spacious apartment-style living with modern amenities and hotel services, creating a home-like environment for extended stay guests. Here Breaking Travel News editor Chris O’Toole calls in for the night.
British Museum remains top attraction in UK as numbers surge
The Association of Leading Visitor Attractions has revealed its members saw an average increase of 6.5 per cent in visitors last year when compared to 2013. Scottish attractions had the greatest increase of almost ten per cent increase, followed by London with an increase of 7.11 per cent. The British Museum remained the most popular visitor attraction overall for the eighth year running with 6,695,213 visitors and remaining in second place was the National Gallery, which saw a 6.4 per cent increase to 6,416,724.
UK to overhaul visa regime to boost business
Visitor visa routes are to be consolidated from the current 15 to just four as part of a simple new streamlined system for business and leisure travellers to the UK. The new easier-to-understand range of visitor visas carry greater flexibility for the people using them and will be accompanied by redesigned user-friendly guidance to make the process of visiting Britain simpler than ever.
Airlines come out in favour of Heathrow expansion in UK
In its closing submission to the Airports Commission today, the Board of Airline Representatives in the UK, representing over 70 airlines, has stated that expansion at Heathrow is the right solution to drive the UK’s economy. At the same time, UKinbound is calling upon the Airports Commission to recommend the development of additional runways at both Gatwick and Heathrow to boost tourism.
UK passport glitch sees delays at ports
Passengers entering the UK through air and seaports continued to face delays this morning as an IT glitch struck the Border Defence computer system. Border guards were unable to scan passports, being forced to input data manually, from late last night, with long queues developing at Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and Birmingham airports.
New £2bn Paramount-branded resort on track for UK market
Plans to develop a new £2 billion world class entertainment destination on the Swanscombe Peninsula, North Kent, have been unveiled by a consortium of leading UK and international companies. The new development will transform the 872 acre brown field site into one of the largest regeneration projects in Europe, creating up to 27,000 jobs and integrating the development into the local communities of Dartford and Gravesham.
Breaking Travel News interview: UK minister for tourism, John Penrose
John Penrose, the tourism and heritage minister at the department for culture, media and sport, has a busy time ahead of him with the London 2012 Olympic Games opening ceremony kicking off tomorrow. Breaking Travel News catches up with the conservative MP to discuss his expectations and plans for the Games.
Public & Commercial Services union calls off UK Olympic border strike
A planned strike by members of the Public & Commercial Services working in the Home Office has been suspended after officials told the union there will be significant investment in the border force and passport service. Officials state the decision will mean more than 1,000 new jobs.
UK border staff cut ‘too fast’ finds NAO
A report published today by the National Audit Office has found the UK Border Agency and Border Force have achieved both cost reductions and performance improvement since 2010, but insufficiently coherent planning and delayed delivery of key projects have hampered faster progress. However, staff numbers had been cut too quickly, the NAO found, prompting long queue seen at Heathrow and other airports earlier this year.
Leading tourism bodies call for UK to utilise cultural heritage in 2012
Embracing our cultural heritage as a revenue stream in the Olympic year is crucial to our success as a tourism hub and economic power, say leading industry figures. The National Trust, English Heritage, Historic Royal Palaces, The V&A, Tate, British Museum and National Gallery are among over 100 organisations that will come together to discuss how the sector can maximise opportunities presented by the London Olympics 2012.
UKinbound reports cautious optimism in British tourism sector
UKinbound members have expressed their optimism for 2012 in the first insight survey carried out by only trade association to represent and unite the UK’s inbound tourism businesses. In her welcome speech to delegates attending UKinbound’s annual Convention currently taking place in Belfast, Rita Beckwith, chairman of UKinbound, outlined the sanguine findings but warned that government was still not doing enough to facilitate inbound tourism’s vital contribution to the UK’s struggling economy.