According to World Tourism Organization statistics, the UK is the world’s seventh most popular tourist destination. Despite the weather, despite the expense, arrivals continue to grow, albeit at a slower pace, attracted by a winning combination of culture, scenery and canny cinematic promotion. The development of St Pancras International and the 2012 Olympic games present new opportunities for expansion, however, there is no room for complacency, with the inbound market performing at a below-average rate. A reliance on the ailing US market, an overly London-centric product and a lack of investment are all key concerns.

The report looks at how the various organisations within the inbound tourism industry are attracting foreign visitors, how the UK is performing compared with rival destinations, identifies current trends and assesses how the inbound market has changed and outlines future developments. It explores the attitudes of the incoming markets identifying key positive and negative responses.

Key report themes:

What are the UK’s most appealing factors for the incoming markets, and how can they be leveraged and marketed?

Where is the UK failing to please/attract visitors, and how can this be improved?

How is the UK performing in attracting foreign visitors to its borders, cities, regions, and attractions?

What are the top Asian and other markets of tomorrow?

How exchange rates and the economies and demographics of the Top 5 incoming markets will impact of future growth?

To what extent will hosting the Olympics benefit the UK, and what changes it will mean to the country’s infrastructure, promotion, and performance?

How can more tourists be lured outside of London?

How are visa and entry issues affecting the incoming market?