Confidence levels for the UK’s inbound tourism industry are at their highest level since before the onset of Covid, according to latest data.
Trade association UKinbound found that 86% of members were feeling confident about bookings and revenue for the next 12 months.
This compared to 63% of respondents in April 2022, 34% in April 2021 and 11% in April 2020.
But only 16% of firms had seen a rise in bookings or enquiries from international visitors due to the King’s coronation and/or the Eurovision Song Contest in Liverpool in May.
Expected or confirmed bookings for the second quarter of 2023 are at the same level or higher than they were pre-pandemic for nearly two thirds of businesses responding to the survey.
More than two thirds of businesses responding to the survey expected revenue for the current quarter and booking levels for Q3 to be the same or higher than before the pandemic.
A strong demand from US visitors is being seen with almost half of businesses (48%) reporting growth from this market.
UKinbound chief executive Joss Croft said: “It is a relief to see that so many businesses in the inbound tourism industry are feeling so confident about current and future bookings and revenue and that there is a very high demand from our US visitors to come to the UK.
“The return of the Chinese market will of course take some time to come back and although our members are not reporting a huge increase in interest or bookings from international visitors related to the forthcoming coronation or Eurovision Song Contest – we know that historically we usually see an increase in the desire to visit the UK after these type of events have taken place due to the substantial increase in media coverage and showcasing of the UK around the world.”