The UK inbound industry enjoyed a right royal boost yesterday with the announcement Prince Charles has agreed to be patron of the first British Tourism Week.
The promotion next March 12-18 aims to increase awareness of the industry’s importance to the UK economy and encourage employers and staff to improve their skills and offering
It will straddle the British Travel Trade Fair and UKinbound Convention in Birmingham and a Tourism Alliance reception in London.
The week is the product of work between tourism agency VisitBritain, inbound tour operators’ association UKinbound and industry lobbying group the Tourism Alliance.
VisitBritain chief executive Tom Wright said: “It’s fantastic news that the Prince of Wales has agreed to be patron.”
Visitor numbers to Britain through seven of the first eight months of this year were up on 2005 following a six-month decline in the second half of last year.