UK announces Tourism Recovery Plan

Posted on 23 June 2021

Tourism Minister Nigel Huddleston has announced the government’s Tourism Recovery Plan.

A welcome and important step on the industry’s road to recovery, the plan recognises the economic potential of the sector, sets out a clear policy direction for the future and outlines the ambitions for domestic and international tourism, with the aim to:

Recover domestic overnight trip volume and spend to 2019 levels by the end of 2022, and inbound visitor numbers and spend by the end of 2023 – both at least a year faster than independent forecasts predict.
Ensure that the sector’s recovery benefits every nation and region, with visitors staying longer, growing accommodation occupancy rates in the off-season and high levels of investment in tourism products and transport infrastructure.
Build back better with a more innovative and resilient industry, maximising the potential for technology and data to enhance the visitor experience and employing more UK nationals in year-round quality jobs.
Ensure the tourism sector contributes to the enhancement and conservation of the country’s cultural, natural and historic heritage, minimises damage to the environment and is inclusive and accessible to all.
Return the UK swiftly to its pre-pandemic position as a leading European destination for hosting business events.

Through our marketing, business support, grant funding programmes and position as the government’s statutory advisor on tourism policy, we have been tasked with leading on delivering many aspects of this Plan and will have a key role in achieving the overall objectives. In the short-term, our focus is to drive immediate tourism recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic by building back visitor spend as quickly as possible and supporting the industry.

Looking further ahead, our spending review bid this year will seek to support the plan’s ambitions and to build on the successful projects we have been running, working with the UK Government and across the industry to cement the recovery and the future of one of this country’s greatest industries.

By working together to drive demand and build back visitor spend as quickly as possible we can emerge from the pandemic and also look towards a brighter future building an industry that is more resilient, sustainable, inclusive and innovative. We look forward to working with you.