TV programmes like Netflix royalty series The Crown are driving the appeal of the UK as a tourist destination, new research shows.
This is particularly the case among the Chinese (44%) and people in the US (26%), while high-profile advertising campaigns (29%) are having their effect on overseas audiences.
Greater spending power was also cited as a key reason why they were keener to visit the UK in 2017.
Among the 63% of international holidaymakers who said they are more interested in holidaying in the UK than this time last year, 31% cited the weaker pound as the main reason.
At the same time, almost a third of Britons (30%) plan to holiday more in the UK this year.
Collectively, this means that UK hotels and the leisure industry are set for a record year with a “substantial increase” in both home and international visitors planning holidays in the UK, according to a report by Barclays Corporate Banking published today (Thursday).
Half of UK respondents choosing a staycation described the familiarity of food, language and travel options as making the UK ‘hassle free’ with 31% now more aware of UK holiday options.
Nearly four in ten respondents (38%) of those citing cost as a factor behind a UK break said the weaker pound made holidays in the UK preferable to those abroad, and 39% said a domestic holiday represents better value for money in 2017.
The research reveals that the average budget for UK breaks is £800 with more than a fifth (22%) of holidaymakers planning to spend over £1,000 on their UK getaways.
Britons also expect to spend an average of £309 on accommodation, £152 on dining out and £121 on shopping, if they were to spend time holidaying in the UK this year.
Moe than half (51%) of international holidaymakers report that the vote to leave the EU has had no impact on their likelihood to visit the UK, and nearly a third (31%) reported that they are more likely to visit the UK than before the Brexit referendum.
However, the study also highlighted the role of the UK as a tourism hub with nearly a quarter (24%) of those who said they would be less likely to visit the UK post-Brexit citing worries about onward travel to other European destinations.
This was especially important for travellers from Australia (44%) who are potentially looking to combine their visit with multiple European destinations owing to the longer travel distance.
Visas are also a concern as of the 10% of international tourists who said they are less interested in visiting the UK today than 12 months ago- nearly on in five (19%) cite this as a worry.
Other international trends revealed by the research include the regions visitors are keenest to visit, with London (67%) and Scotland (44%) topping the list. Interest in Oxford and Cambridge is also notably higher for Chinese guests.
Overall, foreign tourists are eager to experience the UK’s landmarks (51%), history and museums (44%) and natural landscapes (41%).
The average length of a UK visit is just over one week at nine days and the average budget for planned holidays this year per family, including air fares is £3,443.
However, American and Chinese tourists have even larger budgets for their planned holidays this year with average spends of £5,230 and £5,424 respectively.
Visitors from China and the US also have significantly larger shopping budgets, with visitors from these countries having an average of £800 and £713 to spend in British shops respectively, compared to the overall budget of £453 set aside by international visitors on average.
Barclays head of hospitality and leisure, Mike Saul, said: “2017 looks set to be a strong year for the British hospitality sector with both domestic and international visitors increasingly intent on spending more time here.
“While the impact of a weak sterling, at least temporarily, has boosted the UK’s international appeal, underlying this increase is the quality of our hospitality industry today and the UK’s enduring appeal as a truly world class destination.
“Those holidaymakers who are more likely to visit today than 12 months ago are doing so for a range of reasons including the effect of UK operators’ advertising campaigns, the attraction of British TV programmes that have gone global and a case of simply having more money available to spend on holidays from which the UK is set to benefit.”
The study also found that younger people in the UK are more interested in a high-tech approach to the leisure sector than older consumers.
More than a third (36%) of 18-34s would be more likely to use a bar that invested in automated drinks dispensing, compared to just 6% of those aged 55 and over.
Younger consumers are also more comfortable with automated ordering in restaurants, with 43% of 18-34s saying they would be more likely to use such a restaurant compared to 14% of the 55 and overs.
The current trend towards upmarket cinemas and bowling centres serving alcohol are also more popular with younger consumers.
Nearly a third (30%) of 18-34s said they would be more likely to use a cinema that served alcohol, compared to half of all consumers aged over 55 who said that it would put them off.
Regions such as London where this trend is most established, were much more likely to be interested (37%) than people from other regions such as the east of England where only one in ten (17%) would be more likely to visit a cinema that offered alcohol.
Saul said: “Our research points to clear differences in preferences between different ages of traveller with regards to tech-driven innovations.
“Offering guests tailored experiences will be key to success for operators in the UK hospitality and leisure sector in 2017.”