Tourism businesses gear up for English Tourism Week
Guest Writers are not employed, compensated or governed by TD, opinions and statements are from the specific writer directly
Tourism attractions and businesses across England are preparing for the second edition of English Tourism Week (ETW) this week with events and special initiatives for the promotional period.
The celebration of English tourism has returned after the success of its debut last year and has drummed up more involvement from attractions, restaurants and other outlets. It will run from16-24 March.
The promotion will then trickle into the Easter school holidays and eventually into summer. This year the tourism industry is hoping numbers will be boosted after a lull during the Olympics and Jubilee last year.
Reports suggest the industry is optimistic about a rise in numbers, while several online booking agents have said searches for domestic breaks remain high. VisitEngland said there had been a 13% rise in overnight trips in England during August 2012 and its figures also found nearly a quarter of Brits took a domestic break over the festive period.
David Curtis-Brignell, chairman of English Tourism Week and The Tourism Society said the week was an opportunity to build on the promotion and boost in national pride from last year.
“We were delighted with the success of English Tourism Week 2012 and the enthusiastic support it received from both the industry and the public,” he said. “English Tourism Week 2013 is the perfect opportunity to harness this ‘feel-good factor’ [from 2012], and promote an industry that is worth £97billion to the economy and employs over 2 million people.”
In conjunction with ETW, Lincolnshire will be hosting the Discover Lincolnshire Weekend over the next two days (16 and 17 March) which will see its attractions open for free or at a discount. In Nottinghamshire behind-the-scenes tours are available at the Hodstock Priory and the Galleries of Justice, with other initiatives planned within all city and regional tourism authorities.
ETW also ties in with the 2013 opening of several attractions, such as Sudeley Castle in the Cotswolds, which is to share its Roman connections by showing the recreation of a mosaic floor in its Spoonley Roman Villa.
