British Tourism drives growth beyond London

VisitBritain's first trade mission to India in three years, titled 'Destination Britain India,' aimed to increase visits across the various regions and seasons of Great Britain. Louise Bryce, Partnerships Director, VisitBritain, and Vishal Bhatia, Country Manager India, VisitBritain, outline the global resurgence of British Inbound tourism and India's significance in Britain's growth metrics.

- Prativa V Bhalla

UK inbound tourism, a key part of the British economy, is experiencing a strong recovery in value. The July 2023 forecast projects a £ 30.9 billion (INR 3.16 billion) value, up 9 per cent from 2019. Anticipated visits stand at 37.5 million, representing 92 per cent of 2019 levels. Louise stated, “The US, as our main market, is displaying a robust recovery trajectory with a £6 billion market, while France and Germany are key short-haul markets for us. India holds immense importance due to its pace of recovery, rapid growth, widespread regional appeal, and visitations across seasons. India is presently ranked 11th globally but is rapidly ascending.”

The flagship event, which took place from November 19 to November 21, 2023, at Grand Hyatt Gurgaon, saw 26 British trade industry suppliers from across the nations and regions of the UK meet with 100 plus top buyers from India to engage in a series of pre-scheduled free-flow meetings. The suppliers included hotels, retailers, visitor attractions, tour operators, transport providers, and local destinations from across Britain. Vishal stated, “This event marks a significant comeback since our previous gathering, just before COVID-19. We have successfully assembled travel agents and tour operators from all over India to connect and interact with the UK trade.”