According to VisitScotland, a record £63.5m was generated in Scotland through tourism in 2008. £17m more was brought in than 2007 due to a drive to encourage people to visit during quieter months, this is despite a drop in the number of tourist visiting Scotland in 2008.

More than one million more holidays were taken in England in 2009.   According to figures from VisitEngland’s UK Tourism Survey, domestic trips taken in England in the first four months of 2009 are up 13%, 1.2m more holidays. Figures from the Office of National Statistics confirm that outbound travel is down 18% is the same first four months of 2009.

Britons who are remaining in the UK for their holidays have helped Hoseasons boost its annual pre-tax profits by almost £1 million. They saw profits rise to £3.13m in the year ending 31 October 2008.   Strong sales of upmarket park lodge accommodation and new city-break apartments has also helped boots numbers. The company has added around 10% more capacity in cottages and lodges to provide more accommodation for next year. Around one fifth of customers are new as a result of the popularity of the UK this year.

VisitEngland has released figures from the United Kingdom Tourism Survey (UKTS) showing that holiday trips taken by UK residents in England has increased by 13% in the first quarter of 2009. This equates to 1.2m more holiday trips and over 5m extra nights’ holiday than in the same period of 2008.

The National Trust has released new figures suggesting that the economic turndown could lead to more people seeking ‘simpler pleasures’ in their leisure time.

A survey conducted by 2,000 people online by independent specialists OnePoll has revealed that 84% of people ‘consider days out at beauty spots to be more important this year as people look to find ways to make their money go further’.

The results showed that 64% of people favoured walks in the park, whilst a third of respondents listed visits to galleries and historic gardens as being more popular than theme parks and sporting events. The results also revealed that more people than ever consider the value of visiting beautiful places as being important.

New figures released by Ireland’s Central Statistics Office (CSO) have shown that the number of Irish holidaymakers travelling abroad has exceeded the number of inbound trips for the first time in nearly two decades.  The number of Irish residents travelling overseas in 2008 increased by 2.1% on 2007, with the number of foreign residents travelling into Ireland decreasing by 2.2% during the same period.  Visits from the UK fell by 4% and there was a 6.4% fall in visitors from North America. There were 38,000 more trips abroad by Irish residents than inbound visits.

A record number of people visited the British Museum in London last year to see China’s Terracotta Army exhibition. More than 850,000 people viewed the attraction, the highest attendance figures since the Tutankhamun display in 1972. The overall visitor figures from 2007-8 was 6 million. It was so popular that the museum had to extend its opening hours.

Hotels in Europe have started to drop their prices for this summer to avoid losing customers because of the weak pound and economic downturn. HotelConnect, an accommodation-only provider, has said that 50% of its hotels have reduced their prices by 10%-15% for July and August. This has occurred due to hotel occupancy levels dropping in European cities as holidaymakers opt for UK or non-eurozone destinations.

Visit London has said that the tourism industry in London is predicted to face its toughest year since 2005. Fewer tourists are expected to visit the city this year due to the ‘credit crunch’. A record number of 16.1 million overseas visitors came to London in 2007 and added £8.7 bn to the city’s economy. However, domestic tourism has dropped to 10.1m visitors, a decrease of 7.5% compared to 2006.

The English Tourism Intelligence Partnership (ETIP) has commissioned an assessment of tourism statistics for England. The main focus for the survey will be on current research and practice and the way statistical analysis and interpretation is being collected. It will help to outline the actions required by ETIP to help improve the overall scope, range and quality of tourism statistics within England, as well as they was they are interpreted, presented and communicated to the industry.

In 2006, tourism contributed £2.5bn to the economy in Kent. This is a 13.5% increase from 2003. 7% of all jobs across the county are tourism-related. Visit Kent also discovered that the county was a top destination for domestic travellers, who made up to 84% of visitors.

Passenger Shipping Association figures highlight that 1.3 million British people went on a cruise during 2007.  This represents an 11% increase in the number of cruise passengers on 2006.

 

 

In 1957 people in the UK spent 9% of their income on leisure activities and in 2007 it had increased to 20% (source: ONS).

Havard Business School have published a short online article on the ‘rise of medical tourism’.  Read the article here.

The Antigua and Barbuda Tourist Office reports that visitors from the UK continue to increase.

The UK Film Council have released a report which looks at the impact which films have had on tourist destinations and attractions.  The report notes “Alnwick Castle, the location for Hogwarts, saw a 120% rise in visitor numbers following the release of Harry Potter.  The films are estimated to have brought in £9 million in tourist revenue to the area.”  Read more here.

New Zealand – http://www.tourismresearch.govt.nz/

Australia -  http://www.tourism.australia.com/Research.asp

The Interactive Media Group reported that we spent some £7 billion on online travel booking during 2006.