A range of Olympics-themed discounts is due to be launched this week in a major domestic tourism drive designed to boost ‘staycations’.
The campaign will offer 20.12% off at participating hotels, meals, guided tours and entry to attractions, with discounts funded by the industry.
Culture secretary Jeremy Hunt is to unveil the plans on Wednesday with more than three million hotel rooms reportedly lined up to provide price cuts.
A dedicated website will carry the discounts and the scheme will be promoted by a £3 million television advertising campaign. When the campaign was announced many in the trade whose livelihoods depend on overseas holidays branded it a “scandalous waste of money”.
The VisitEngland ‘holidays at home are great’ campaign is hoped to create 12,000 jobs, encourage 5.3 million extra short overnight breaks and generate £480 million in extra spending over three years.
Hunt was reported as saying: “With the Diamond Jubilee and the 2012 Olympic Games, this year is the perfect opportunity for more of us to holiday in the UK.
“With so much going on, and this fantastic new 20.12% discount scheme, it’s a great opportunity to see what Britain has to offer.”
He added: “The inevitable moans and groans in the run up to an Olympics must not cloud the scale of the opportunity – including our biggest ever tourism marketing campaign to make sure we get a lasting benefit from being in the global spotlight.”