Mice Affairs Media Group, News Bureau, 08 June 2021
The UK as a visitor destination will be in
the global media spotlight with the G7 Summit in Cornwall fast approaching and
VisitBritain is taking the opportunity to inspire future travel and events.
The G7 countries and those invited as guests include some of the UK’s largest
and most valuable inbound visitor markets, giving the national tourism agency a
valuable chance to promote ‘destination Britain.’
VisitBritain Director Patricia Yates said:
“The G7 Summit and the accompanying international media exposure gives us a
fantastic opportunity to highlight our outstanding tourism and events offer and
the amazing experiences that visitors - including world-leaders - can only have
in Britain. With the ambition to be the ‘world’s meeting place’ the Summit also
demonstrates Britain’s ability to host business events of the highest calibre.
“The G7 countries are incredibly important inbound visitor markets and the
Summit is a valuable chance to promote our culture and heritage, our fabulous
tourism products and new experiences that are unique to Britain, and ready and
waiting for when visitors can return.
“We know there is pent-up demand for travel and our international teams are
working closely with travel trade and partners in market to keep Britain
front-of-mind to drive future trips, as well as highlighting messages of
reassurance and welcome, as part of the G7 Summit and beyond.
“As restrictions are eased we will be competing hard for international visitors
who contribute billions to our economy.”
The G7 Summit comes as VisitBritain’s latest
forecasts show a slow recovery
for inbound tourism and events with overseas visitor spending this year in the
UK of £6.2 billion, less than a quarter of the £28.4 billion in 2019.
Last year alone saw a more than £24
billion loss to the UK economy in overseas visitor spending.
VisitBritain has been tracking visitor sentiment throughout the pandemic with
its latest
research indicating strong
pent-up demand for international travel in the next 12 months, and Britain high
on the wish list for potential delegates.
Protocols on hygiene and safety are among the top assurances travellers said
would boost their confidence in taking a trip abroad. VisitBritain’s ‘We’re
Good to Go’ industry
standard alongside the World Travel & Tourism Council’s global ‘Safe
Travels’ stamp is reassuring
visitors that UK tourism businesses, attractions and destinations have clear
processes in place to welcome them back safely as travel restrictions can be
lifted.
VisitBritain would also be using the Summit to promote major events next year
which are set to be significant global tourism draws including COP26 in
Glasgow, The Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee
and Festival UK 2022 - to promote the UK's creativity and innovation to the
world.
It also comes as VisitBritain sets out its priorities for the year ahead to aid the recovery of both domestic and international tourism, including rebuilding a more resilient, sustainable and accessible industry with its efforts also focused on ensuring tourism is delivering on the UK Government’s commitments on climate change.
Tourism and events are critical industries for the UK, usually worth £127 billion a year to the economy and VisitBritain continues to work with the UK Government, as it sets out its recovery plan and ambitions for tourism, and across the industry to cement the recovery and the future of one of the country’s greatest industries.
