The UK’s inbound tourism market has suffered a tough year as the triple whammy of a strong pound, high fuel and the economic downturn, which contributed to the first drop in visitor numbers in many years. International visitor numbers fell by 150,000 to 32.6 million, according the VisitBritain’s 2007/08 annual review. The decine in numbers from the developed world was not offset by growth in numbers from emerging markets.

VisitBritain is deploying Polycom’s group video conferencing solutions in a bid to maintain direct contact between its offices worldwide and to promote the UK, home of the 2012 Olympics, to tourists.