British Tourism Week co-chairman and VisitBritain chief executive Tom Wright on travel agents and UK holidays
When Britons are choosing their next holiday destination, it’s easy for them to overlook the appeal of a holiday in the UK.
Equally, travel agents sometimes fail to see the benefit of selling a domestic break to their clients.
Many see it as a specialised option and it’s true that knowledge of our own country is often a niche that too few specialise in.
Yet agents need to address competition from the Internet and its appeal for customers wanting to self-package or book their holidays direct. Selling a domestic break may be the way forward.
The UK is already a successful tourism destination worth over £85 billion a year to the British economy, and 80% of that comes from domestic visitors.
However, this is over-shadowed by the vast sums spent by UK citizens taking holidays abroad, so we should do more to promote Britain to the British.
The second British Tourism Week, from March 10 to 18, seeks to raise awareness of the critical importance of our industry.
It seeks to showcase the wealth of quality holiday experiences and destinations – for every budget – to be found in every part of the UK and help us all rediscover and appreciate what we
have on our doorstep.
So take the opportunity during British Tourism Week to familiarise yourself with domestic destinations, try to offer a UK option during every client enquiry. Help us make Britain one of the most visited destinations in the world…for Britons.
