VisitBritain’s inbound tourism forecast for 2021 is predicting the first signs of a slow recovery for overseas visits to the UK.
Its forecast published today shows a gradual increase in the value of inbound tourism during January to March 2021 with a step-change heading into Easter and the spring, if national restrictions are eased as expected, particularly from short-haul European markets.
Overall, VisitBritain is forecasting 16.9 million inbound visits in 2021. While this is an increase of 73% on this year, it is less than half of the 40.9 million visits the UK saw in 2019.
Inbound visitor spending is forecast to reach £9.0 billion in 2021. Although up 59% on 2020, it is less than a third of the all-time spending high of £28.4 billion seen in 2019.
Tourism Minister Nigel Huddleston said:
“This forecast shows our tourism industry can look ahead to 2021 with renewed optimism for recovery. With the announcement of our ‘Test to Release’ international travel scheme, the backing of the Global Travel Taskforce report, and the Covid-19 vaccine rollout, we are committed to bringing the inbound tourism sector back to full strength. Let there be no doubt about this Government’s support for tourism.”
VisitBritain Director Patricia Yates said:
“UK tourism businesses usually welcome tens of millions of overseas visitors each year with those visitors spending billions, supporting jobs and local economies right across the country. This year of course has been very different with international travel largely at a standstill and businesses having lost months of vital trading. Beginning to see signs of some green shoots is encouraging news for the industry and the economy as we look to 2021 and beyond.
“Tourism is also a fiercely competitive global industry and the key to success will be attracting visitors, those who can travel now, stimulating demand and bookings to drive the quickest return of international tourism spend.”
Visits from short-haul European markets are forecast to recover quicker than long-haul, although still expected to be half, 13.6 million, of the 27.3 million seen in 2019. VisitBritain is set to launch a campaign in early 2021 across its major European markets including Germany and France, its third and fourth most valuable tourism source markets respectively, to drive future bookings highlighting messages of welcome and reassurance.
For long-haul markets, the forecast is for 3.3 million inbound visits to the UK in 2021, less than a quarter, 24%, of the 13.6 million in 2019.
VisitBritain’s latest inbound consumer sentiment research showed that a third of international travellers surveyed state they are ‘in the mood’ for travelling abroad in 2021. More than a quarter surveyed expect to have time and the means to travel abroad but not to book far in advance. One in five had not chosen their destination for 2021, with a similar proportion having postponed plans from 2020 to 2021.
VisitBritain welcomed the UK Government’s ‘test to release for international travel’ scheme as a boost for the industry in the run up to the festive period and beyond. The Government has also backed the Global Travel Taskforce report recommendations, highlighting the importance of inbound tourism including a flagship overseas marketing campaign to promote the UK as an attractive and safe place to visit.
The ‘We’re Good To Go’ industry standard, launched by VisitEngland in partnership with the national tourism organisations of Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, is supporting domestic and international visitors to book with confidence. The scheme demonstrates that tourism businesses are adhering to the respective Government and public health guidance, have carried out a COVID-19 risk assessment and checked that they have the required processes in place.
Tourism is usually worth £127 billion annually to the UK economy. The industry is also a job creator, for every 22 inbound visits from China for example, one job is created in Britain’s tourism industry.
