English Tourism Week is fast approaching with this year’s week dedicated to showing support for tourism businesses and destinations across the sector as they reopen and start to rebuild. Coordinated by VisitEngland and taking place from 22-31 May, this event is an annual celebration of the tourism industry, highlighting its economic importance to local economies and promoting the innovation, quality and range of products and services on offer to encourage more domestic breaks.
It comes as the tourism agency’s latest forecasts show that domestic tourism spending is estimated this year of GBP 51.4 billion (USD 72.85 billion), just over half of the GBP 91.6 billion (USD 129.83 billion) in 2019. Last year alone saw about two-thirds of the value wiped off the domestic tourism industry, a GBP 58 billion (USD 82.21 billion) loss to the economy.
Tourism minister Nigel Huddleston said: “The tourism sector has undoubtedly faced enormous challenges over the past year. This is why we have provided over GBP 25 billion (USD 35.43 billion) in support to date, including the unprecedented VAT cut. Tourism and hospitality businesses across the country have continually impressed me with their ability to adapt over the past year and I know they’re all ready to welcome us back. English tourism has so much to offer, from rural retreats to city breaks. I can’t wait to get out there exploring and I urge everyone to join me in supporting our fantastic tourism sector by taking a domestic holiday over the coming months.”
VisitEngland director Andrew Stokes said: “Our annual event to celebrate and champion English tourism has never been more important, providing a timely opportunity to show the outstanding offer here on our doorstep as we head in to the critical summer season and to support local businesses and visitor attractions, who have lost months of vital trading, as they reopen and rebuild.”
In the lead-up to English Tourism Week and throughout VisitEngland is encouraging people to share photos and social media posts to show support for the sector using #EnglishTourismWeek21.
VisitEngland is also set to launch the next phase of its Escape the Everyday campaign this month, encouraging domestic breaks with a focus also on cities and city visitor attractions as well as regional gateways, which have also been particularly hard hit by the lack of international visitors and that rely on overseas visitors and their spending.
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