As we head into autumn and the start of a new school year, tourist resorts around the UK are counting the profits after another booming staycation season.
Chief amongst chosen destinations for holidaymakers is the south-west of England, home of the regional trade show Giving & Living, which takes place from January 14 to January 16 at Westpoint in Exeter.
Hospitality tech provider Zonal and CGA by NielsenIQ found that in a survey of more than 2,000 UK consumers, 81% of respondents intended to holiday in a UK hotel this year, 44% chose to avoid overseas trips due to cost-of-living increases, while 39% opted to staycation. Extremes of heat overseas have also made the more temperate British climate more appealing.
But it isn’t just Brits who are enjoying the treasures our native shores have to offer. VisitEngland reported that last year the UK welcomed 31.2 million inbound visitors who spent £26.5 billion. Spend per visit in 2022 was well up on 2019, partly due to a longer than average length of stay for visitors, especially in the first quarter of the year.
The overall tourism forecast for 2023 is 37.5 million visitors, who are predicted to spend £30.9 billion. This is an upgrade on earlier forecasts, due to strong end of year results for 2022.
VisitBritain CEO Patricia Yates said: “Our upgraded forecast is on the back of the stronger recovery we’re seeing, led by the US with spending by American visitors up 42% to a record £6 billion last year alone. Spending by visitors from our major European markets including France and Spain is also coming back strongly.”
Looking ahead to next year, the forecast is very positive, with visitor numbers expected to have fully recovered to pre-Covid volumes by the end of 2024.
Giving & Living organiser Mike Anderson, managing director of Hale Events, commented: “The British tourist trade is undoubtedly benefitting from the rise of staycations and continued enthusiasm for holidays closer to home. The restoration of visitor numbers from overseas is very positive news that bodes extremely well for the 2024 season.”
Giving & Living is billed as the largest gift and home trade show in the south-west. Hale Events is a dedicated team of professionals which organises specialist exhibitions and trade shows across the south-west including Giving & Living, the Source trade show, and Expowest Cornwall.
For more information call 01934 733433, email mail@hale-events.com or visit www.givingliving.co.uk