Tourism sector confident for year ahead

The tourism sector had a strong Christmas trading performance, with increased bookings for people visiting relatives and more short trips taken over the festive compared to last year. 

This is according to the results from the VisitEngland Tourism Business Monitor, which found that half of all accommodation providers and 62% of attractions received more visitors this Christmas than in 2013.

The survey also found that nearly nine in 10 accommodation providers (86%) and 93% of attractions were satisfied with their business performance throughout Christmas and the New Year.

Looking ahead, nearly nine out of 10 (86%) of accommodation providers reported feeling confident  about business this winter compared to last January, meanwhile there is also an uplift among attractions with 95% feeling confident compared to 89% at this time last year.

James Berresford, chief executive of VisitEngland, said: “The year ended strongly for many and that has been a confidence booster for much of the industry as we go into 2015. Short breaks are the biggest growth area of tourism and have increased by 5 million over last decade.

“We now take around 30 million short trips in England each year, worth some £5.6bn to the economy. Our research shows those tourism businesses that have geared themselves up for this market have done well over Christmas.

“Looking ahead, the sector is feeling confident about the unusually high number of milestone events this year such as the Rugby World Cup 2015, the 800th anniversary of the Magna Carta and the 50 years since the death of Winston Churchill which will undoubtedly drive domestic tourism this year.”