Industry Happy with Autumn Performance

VisitEngland Research Shows Industry Happy with Autumn Performance

1 December 2010.   Results, released today, from VisitEngland’s Business Confidence Monitor show the majority of accommodation businesses are satisfied with levels of business over the autumn, and are positive about prospects for 2011.

The findings provide a broadly positive picture for the industry in which 81 per cent of businesses said they were satisfied, and 31 per cent said they were very satisfied with visitor numbers during September and October.  39 per cent reported more guests during this time compared to last year, with only 26 per cent of operators reporting fewer.

The half term period remained stable in comparison to 2009, England’s best ever year for leisure tourism, with 76 per cent reporting the same number (51 per cent) or more (25 per cent) visitors this year. 

Reflecting trends seen throughout the year, performance varied by accommodation type, with around 45 per cent of self-catering, hotel and B&B operators reporting an increase in guests over autumn compared to just 21 per cent of camping and caravanning businesses.  Hotels performed the best with a third increasing their visitors and over half achieving the same level.

VisitEngland Chief Executive James Berresford commented:” This study gives us a positive picture straight from the from the coal face, from the people running accommodation businesses who are catering to the needs to our visitors everyday. Last year was England’s best ever year for tourism.  To maintain such positive levels of business this year demonstrates a continued healthy appetite by both domestic and international visitors to experience a holiday in England.”

He goes onto to say: “We know for sure, that perceptions of holidaying in England are changing as Brits who chose to holiday at home last year have repeated the experience this year.  The future is bright for tourism in England.  We have a decade of sporting events to look forward to, some of the world’s best theatres, museums, restaurants and countryside on offer and which other destination can boast a royal wedding in 2011!”

According to The UK Tourism Survey, trips from January to August are down 3 per cent this year compared to the same period last year.  However, despite this slight downturn the UK continues to experience double digit growth with holiday trips up 11 per cent in 2010 compared to 2008, pre credit crunch. 

Ends

For more information contact:

Sarah Long, Strategic Communications Manager Tel: 020 7578 1452, Mob: 07500555651, Email: [email protected]  www.visitengland.com/corporate

Notes to Editors

·  A total of 501 interviews have been completed by telephone with business owners or managers between 1-5 November 2010.

About VisitEngland

• VisitEngland is the strategic leadership body representing the public and private sector stakeholders of English Tourism.  It works in partnership creating national tourism strategy, optimising marketing investment, and developing the visitor experience across England 
• VisitEngland continues to use its Enjoy England consumer brand in the domestic market and markets England under the VisitEngland brand in international markets 
• More information can be found on www.enjoyengland.com and www.visitengland.com/corporate

• The research was conducted by Strategic Marketing on behalf of VisitEngland.For the full report click here