National tourism agency, VisitBritain is hoping for a strong finish to the summer holidays with 8.8 million Brits (19% of Britain’s adult population) planning an overnight trip in Britain during the last two weeks of the summer holidays.
The tourism industry hopes that Bank Holiday weather – forecast to be dry with some sunshine in many places through the weekend – will further encourage visitors to spend time at destination and attractions throughout England, Scotland and Wales.
A £1 million campaign with national TV and newspaper advertising has already been launched to make potential visitors more aware of holiday experiences in England, particularly those in rural, coastal and countryside destinations.
Mike Bedingfield, marketing director at VisitBritain, says: “It’s great news that nearly one in five of us are planning to take a break here in our own country. It will give a much needed boost to parts of the tourism industry after a challenging start to the summer.
“Whatever the weather, there’s always something for visitors to enjoy – from rural escapes and outdoor pursuits to superlative attractions indoors and out.”
Visit www.enjoyengland.com for the latest bank holiday ideas.
Further information:
Elliott Frisby, Corporate PR Manager on 020 8563 3035, mob: 07951 996241
Ben Miller, Corporate Press Officer on 020 8563 3220
Notes to editors
· VisitBritain is responsible for promoting Britain as a world class tourist destination and for developing England’s visitor economy. It has representatives in 36 countries around the world and, in the last three years, has expanded into China, throughout Eastern Europe and Southeast Asia, and increased its presence in India with representatives in Bangalore and Mumbai.
· In 2005, there were 30 million visitors to Britain, 8% up on 2004. They spent £14.2 billion in the UK: a 9% increase on 2004.
· VisitBritain’s international website, www.visitbritain.com, was awarded World’s Leading Tourism Authority Internet Site for the third year in a row at the 2006 World Travel Awards by more than 200,000 travel and tourism professionals. With information provided in 26 different languages, every year over 12 million visits are made by international consumers to the 46 websites that make up visitbritain.com. VisitBritain plans to increase this to 25 million by 2009.
· An archive of media releases, information on VisitBritain's marketing activities, print quality, free-to-download images and more details about the work of VisitBritain in promoting Britain as a destination, can be found on VisitBritain’s online press centre, www.visitbritain.com/presscentre