Find Tourism and Travel partners in United Kingdom
- Overview
- Investment
Overview
The Travel and tourism sector contributed 6.7% of GDP to United Kingdom’s economy in 2011 according to the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC). As a result of this, the WTTC ranks the UK 120th out of 181 countries worldwide in terms of relative contribution of tourism to the economy (GDP). There were over 28 million tourist arrivals in 2010. The 2012 London Olympics brought new interest in the UK and higher footfall was recorded in London businesses over the summer period. The tourism sector supports directly and indirectly 7.4% of total employment in the UK, which is expected to rise over the coming decade, meaning that in 2022 over 2.8 million people will be employed in the industry (WTTC estimates 2011). Visitor exports accounted for 5.1% of total exports in 2011 which is expected to rise in line with the growth of tourism.
Investment
Five statutory bodies promote tourism in the country with the support of the Department of Culture, Media and Sport. They are: the British Tourist Authority, the English Tourism Council and the Tourist Boards for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The Ministry’s aims include developing the tourism sector to make the most of increased worldwide attention on the UK following the 2012 London Olympics, boosting domestic tourism and ensuring that the UK remains competitive as a tourist destination. The main markets for tourist promotion are Europe, North America, Asia and Australasia. Tourism infrastructure is very well developed. The focus of marketing for each of the country’s tourism authorities is a blend of culture, landscape and heritage. The UK boasts some of the most famous art galleries and houses some of the most renowned museum collections in the world. It is a well known for its history and culture, with a great interest in the Royal Family, castles and ancient sites, as well as its world class football leagues. Adventure, outdoor and family holidays are widely promoted, with the several boards suggesting an itinerary for tourists travelling with pets. The ecotourism and ‘voluntourism’ sector is growing and has great scope for development as working holidays are increasing in popularity. The English Tourism Council gives awards for sustainable tourism to businesses around the country.
Investment in travel and tourism in 2011 was GBP9.5bn, constituting 4.4% of total investment. This was expected to rise by 1.9% in 2012, and then continue to rise by 3.0% pa over the folowing ten years, reaching GBP13.0bn by 2022.