Uk Outbound Tourism News
Value of sterling slides as UK election produces hung parliament
The value of pound sterling has fallen sharply after the UK general election produced a hung parliament. Sterling fell overnight as the outcome of the election remained unclear, with further falls as markets opened in London.
British visitors flock to Lithuanian as Baltic tourism booms
The number of British tourists visiting Lithuania has increased by 7.6 per cent over the past year. More than 58,200 British holidaymakers visited the destination in 2016, staying at least one night said Lithuania State Department of Tourism, making it the fifth consecutive year for growth from the UK market.
British tourists flock to Valencia
Valencia received a record 95,106 British visitors in 2016, 19.9 per cent more than in 2015 and, with new direct flights from London Luton, Birmingham, Glasgow and Edinburgh being launched in the next few months, that figure is expected to grow further this year.
Eurostar discover British ‘traveller-selves’
Eurostar has revealed research exploring Brits’ ‘traveller-selves’. The new research shows that travellers enjoy a travel state of mind which changes attitudes to food, technology, relationships and even money as almost two thirds (65 per cent) say they transform into a version of themselves that they prefer.
India Tourism welcomes Gangadhar to London
India’s ministry of tourism has welcomed the appointment of C Gangadhar as assistant director at the India Tourism Office in London. Assistant director Gangadhar will accede to the role previously filled by R Sunani, who had established a strong working relationship with the UK and Ireland travel and tourism trade.
Voyageurs du Monde takes stake in Original Travel
Voyageurs du Monde has made a significant strategic investment in acquiring a 60 per cent stake in Original Travel, one of the UK’s fastest growing bespoke travel companies. The acquisition follows a 12-month review of the UK market by Voyageurs du Monde, as it sought an investment opportunity to further expand its international operations into key English-speaking markets.
Uzbekistan to introduce visa on arrival for UK visitors in April 2017
Uzbekistan is on the verge of a well-justified boost in tourism following the announcement that visa requirements will be relaxed for UK citizens entering the country from April 2017. Rich in history and culture and with numerous mosques, minarets and madrasahs punctuating the skyline, there has never been a better time to explore the treasures of this country.
Egyptian parliamentary group calls for Sharm el-Sheikh flight decision
Following a recent trip to Sharm el-Sheikh, the chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Egypt has urged the British government to take a swift decision on lifting the ban on flights to Sharm el-Sheikh. Gerald Howarth also said, in a recent TV interview, that a representative of the department for transport “felt that the conditions had been met to enable flights to resume”.
UK traveller boom for Tenerife in early 2016
The latest figures from the Tenerife Tourism Corporation indicate that over 800,000 visitors from the UK travelled to Tenerife between January and May 2016, representing an increase of 20.8 per cent on the previous year. These statistics are all the more remarkable considering that 2015 saw a total of 1,765,216 visitors from the UK market, which already represented an uplift of 4.8 per cent on the previous year.
Visa: UK households set for travel spend boom
A new study commissioned by Visa has forecast significant growth in international travel by UK households in the next decade. UK spend on global travel is predicted to reach £63.4 billion in 2025, up 58 per cent on 2015. On average, each UK household is set to spend £9,300 annually by 2025, up from £6,500 in 2015.
Southampton Airport makes TV debut
Southampton Airport’s first ever TV advert has gone live on Sky channels in the south-east region of the UK, aimed at encouraging viewers to book direct and fly local. The 30 second advert will focus on four key travel themes which can be experienced by flying direct from Southampton Airport. These themes include beaches and islands, wine and cuisine, pure air and romantic places.
Red7 launches new brand identity in UK
Based in Brighton, group activity trip experts Red7 has announced a vibrant new brand identity which reflects a new business direction for the company. Red7 will still continue to offer market leading hen and stag parties as they have done for over 30 years, and as part of the rebrand, the group travel specialist will also be the first port of call for any customer needing to organise group travel such as birthday weekends, family breaks, girls’ and guys’ trips away.