12 March 2008
London’s popular Blue Badge Guides are offering the public a series of free walks in the capital on Saturday 15 March.
– Britain’s fifth largest industry – worth £85 billion – 3.5% of the nation’s economy –
– employs 2.1 million people – 7.7% of the workforce – morejobs than construction or transport–
– generates over £16 billion in export earning –
– inbound visitors pay£3.3 billion in tax, the equivalent of the salary of 195,000 nurses–
London’s popular Blue Badge Guides are offering the public a series of free walks in the capital on Saturday 15 March. Taking place in the morning and afternoon, each has a ‘Great British’ theme to celebrate the second annual British Tourism Week.
Follow the history of food writer Elizabeth David to Ebury Street Farmers’ Market, discover the wild personalities that haunted ‘theatreland’, revel in 250 years of Marylebone’s music scene and ramble among royal statues.
After recent acclaim for Johnny Depp’s role, learn for yourself the ‘bloody’ stories behind the Demon Barber of Fleet Street or follow in the steps of the notorious Kray Twins. On the milder side, hear about the real events and people that inspired nursery rhymes, explore the history of Great Britons who changed our world at the National Portrait Gallery and even find the Temple of Sewerage.
Knowledgeable Guides will be leading walks on the City’s architecture, on centuries of shopping, about Shakespeare, Churchill and other statesmen, and encouraging you to sing-along while hearing about the theatres and stars, their shows and songs. Elsewhere, see where British monarchs, soldiers, scientists and architects rubbed shoulders with courtesans, crooks, rakes and libertines.
Tom Wright, chief executive of VisitBritain and co-chairman of British Tourism Week’s multi-sector steering committee, says: “Our £85 billion visitor economy touches every part of the UK but if we are to maintain our success in a world of ever-increasing competition, we must remind people of the huge range of experiences they can enjoy here and get them to take a break over Easter and the summer ahead. Guided walks are a fascinating way of discovering something you never knew you didn’t know.”
For details, visit www.blue-badge-guides.com underTourist Guide Day.
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Elliott Frisby, Corporate PR Manager, VisitBritain on 020 8563 3035 or 07951 996241
Notes to Editors
· Walks are undertaken on a “first come, first served” basis and cannot be pre-booked. Guides may decide on maximum numbers for safety
· British Tourism Week (10-18 March 2008) has been established to demonstrate the critical value of tourism to the economy of the United Kingdom. Through a week of events throughout the UK it will:
o Increase awareness of the success and importance of the tourism industry
o Raise quality standards
o Promote training and professionalism
o Improve competitiveness of the UK tourism industry
o Support the preparations for hosting the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games
· British Tourism Week is organised by VisitBritain and UKinbound with the support of the Tourism Alliance, Tourism Society, ABTA the Travel Association, VisitScotland, Visit Wales, Visit London and Britain’s regional tourist boards.