Visitbritain News
Britain seen as increasingly welcoming to international visitors
The percentage of international visitors who said they felt extremely welcome in Britain has more than doubled in the last five years according to a new report by national tourism agency VisitBritain. The ‘Britain’s welcome to overseas visitors’ report, based on a survey of more than 5,000 visitors as they departed Great Britain, found that 42 per cent said they felt extremely welcome, compared to 30 per cent in 2012 and 19 per cent in 2009.
VisitBritain to launch print magazine
As the number of international visits to Britain continues to break records, VisitBritain and the GREAT Britain campaign have launched a new annual magazine aimed at inspiring even more people to visit Britain. The ‘Imagination – Make Britain Your Own’ magazine showcases why Britain is an ideal place to holiday, study and do business by profiling some of Britain’s most iconic people, places and things to do.
Britain welcomes record visitor numbers in 2015
International visits to Britain for the first nine months of 2015 have broken previous records according to new figures out today from the Office for National Statistics. The data shows there were 27.1 million visits to Britain from January to September this year, a three per cent increase compared to the same period in 2014.
VisitBritain to launch largest ever Chinese trade mission
As VisitBritain gets set to host its largest ever tourism mission to China, new research shows that Chinese perceptions of Britain as a tourist destination are stronger than ever. More than 70 travel trade and industry suppliers from the UK including hotels, retailers and tour operators are set to showcase what makes Britain a GREAT destination to Chinese buyers at VisitBritain’s annual ‘Destination Britain China’ event.
VisitBritain and Turkish Airlines sign marketing partnership
VisitBritain and Turkish Airlines have launched a new global marketing partnership to attract more international visitors to Britain, with a focus across the airline’s five regional gateways which include Manchester, Birmingham and Edinburgh, as well as London’s Heathrow and Gatwick. This new partnership will see VisitBritain and Turkish Airlines develop an international marketing campaign over the coming 12-months and will initially focus on Saudi Arabian, Indian and other Gulf markets.
UK welcomes booming Chinese tourism as president Xi arrives
As China’s president Xi Jinping arrives for a state visit, latest figures show a record number of visitors from China are coming to Britain. VisitBritain reports that the number of visits from China from April-June this year was up 35 per cent (to 50,000) on the same period in 2014; and comparing the first six months of 2015 to the same period last year the number of visits was up 28 per cent (to 90,000), a record first six months of the year.
Shopping drives UK tourism market
Shopping is one of the most popular activities for international visitors to the UK, with 64 per cent of visits in 2014 involving shopping; and an estimated £5.5bn being spent on retail therapy during the year, according to new research from VisitBritain, the national tourism agency. Their new report, Types of shops visited by overseas visitors, reveals how lucrative shopping by overseas visitors is for the UK economy with around 22 million international visitors in 2014 indulging in retail therapy.
UK records record visitor numbers in first half of 2015
Visits to the UK in the first half of 2015 are 16.8 million, the highest recorded over the first six months of any year showing a five per cent increase over 2014. In addition, visits to the UK by overseas visitors are three per cent higher in the twelve months to June 2015 compared to the previous twelve month period at 34.9 million.
International tourism reaches record levels in Britain
International tourism returns to growth with record results in April, including increases in both nominal spend and visits across Britain. According to figures released today by the Office for National Statistics International Passenger Survey, the UK welcomed 3.14 million visits in April, six per cent more than in the same month last year.
BBC Worldwide launches new portal in partnership with VisitBritain
BBC Worldwide, the commercial arm of the BBC, and VisitBritain, the UK’s national tourism agency, have announced a new partnership to launch a dedicated content portal, known as BBC Britain, which will tell a compelling story of modern Britain. British Airways, one of the world’s leading global premium airlines, has been confirmed as the first company to join the partnership.
Dawe takes up new role with Four Communications
Sandie Dawe, the former chief executive of VisitBritain, has been appointed a strategic advisor to Four Communications, a leading integrated marketing communications agency based in London. Dawe was the architect of Britain’s tourism strategy for the London Olympic & Paralympic Games and played a major role in the development of the Government’s GREAT campaign which successfully unites the international promotion of Britain under one banner for inward investment, education, trade and tourism.
Full year figures reveal new records for British tourism
New full-year inbound tourism figures released today reveal that 2014 was a record year for both inbound visits and overseas visitor spending in the UK. The latest International Passenger Survey figures show that overseas visitors spent £21.7 billion in Britain last year, three per cent up on 2013 and a new record in both nominal and real terms.