THE BRITISH Tourist Authority is forecasting a 1%-4% increase in overseas visitor numbers this year, despite worldwide political and economic uncertainty.
A spokeswoman for the BTA admitted overseas visitor numbers and spending could potentially be hit by the introduction of the euro, the financial crisis in the Far East, political problems in the Middle East, and a recession in Western countries.
“On the plus side, we can focus on all the things people can do in the run-up to the millennium,” she said. “Then there is Prince Edward’s wedding and the campaigns the BTA itself is running.”
The US market is expected to see the biggest growth in 1999, due to an increase in airline capacity and lower prices holiday prices.
But the BTA is also hoping there will be a recovery in tourism from East European and Asian markets.
The total number of overseas visitors during 1998 is estimated at 25.5m, the same number as the year before.
Visitor spending during 1998 hit £12.8bn, up from £12.2bn in 1997.
The BTA is planning to run overseas campaigns promoting walking, British movie locations and the millennium this year.