Tourism Tourism spend at ‘record’ high


Tourist expenditure in the UK reached a record high of £125bn last year, according to a new Tourism Alliance report launched at its Parliamentary reception on 12 March. UK Tourism Statistics 2012


revealed that levels of expendi- ture in 2011 were £16bn higher than the previous record and follows a 14 per cent growth in domestic tourism. Te organisation’s report


also shown an increase in the number of UK tourism busi- nesses – up from 200,000 to 249,000 – while the industry employs 9 per cent of the total workforce. However, Tourism Alliance said the sector


Te domestic market helped boost visitor expenditure to a record high


could achieve more if the government adopts measures such as improving visa processing for residents from the UK’s growth markets. Tourism Alliance chair Brigid Simmonds said: “We could do so much more if the


government cut red tape – including improv- ing the system of visa processing for overseas tourists from growth markets. “We are calling on the government to sup-


port our sector, so we can create more jobs at a time for a real boost to economic growth.” Details: http://lei.sr?a=Z1q0y


Liverpool cruise facility plans move forward


Cruise liners could be able start and stop in Liverpool from late May after councillors approved a plan to push forward the city’s bid to become more than just a port of call. Liverpool City Council is to build a tempo- rary centre on Peel Ports-owned land – subject


to planning approval – to accommodate check- in, baggage and customs facilities. Te council also agreed to adhere to a ruling


to decide how much it will have to repay from the construction of an existing terminal. Details: http://lei.sr?a=h8r9j


Major domestic marketing drive launches


A major new domestic tour- ism marketing campaign – the “largest-ever” – has been unveiled by national tourism agency VisitEngland and cul- ture secretary Jeremy Hunt. VisitEngland is fronting the


Holidays At Home Are Great drive and is being supported by home nation tourist boards in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales in order to show- case the UK’s attractions. A new television advert


started airing on 8 March and encourages residents to visit a new website – www.great- 2012offers.com – providing consumers with “thousands” of deals. Te campaign is being backed by a range of


© CYBERTREK 2012 Harry Potter star Rupert Grint visited Loch Awe for the new campaign Hunt said: “Tis is the perfect time to make


leading tourism firms, including Marriott, De Vere and Millennium and Copthorne.


the most of the UK and take your holiday, long weekend or short break here.” Details: http://lei.sr?a=y8R0k


Twitter: @leisureopps


New work highlights role of tourism sector


KurT JANsoN is policy director at Tourism Alliance


T


he Tourism Alliance has pro- duced two new pieces of work to underline the size and potential of the UK tourism industry.


Te first of these is an annual review of


tourism statistics (UK Tourism Statistics 2012 – see right), bringing together head- line figures from the three main national tourism surveys and combines them with key information from other studies and publications to provide an over view of the size and value of tourism to the UK econ- omy. Te headline figure in this review is the calculation that total tourism expendi- ture in the UK last year reached £125bn. It suggests tourism is growing strongly


despite the downturn and, as I have men- tioned previously, much of this is occurring in domestic tourism and day-visits. People are increasingly unwilling to forgo a hol- iday despite the economic downturn and are looking for good value options for tak- ing a break from the pressures of work. With excitement mounting for the forth-


coming Diamond Jubilee and Olympics, and the launch of the new £5m VisitEngland campaign, it looks likely the domestic mar- ket will continue to grow strongly. Te second piece of work is the produc-


tion of a powerful new Tourism Alliance video illustrating the potential of the indus- try to deliver growth and employment for the UK economy. Te video was produced for our annual Parliamentary reception to engage with politicians and gaining their support for the sector. Tis recognition is something that has increased significantly in the last two years – evidenced by the 97 MPs accepting our invitation to attend. Key to the video are surprising figures


on the growth and potential of the Chinese outbound market and the world-beating resources on which the UK industry is based. For example, did you know that the UK has more than 10 times more walk- ing tracks than New Zealand and more Michelin starred restaurants than Spain? It’s these type of facts that make people sit up and reassess their views of the sector. Both the video and the statistics review are available here: http://lei.sr?a=W7a9K


Read Leisure Opportunities online: www.leisureopportunities.co.uk/digital 13


image: ints vikmanis/shutterstock.com


image: visitengland


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