2009 to be a bumper year for UK tourism

(31 December 2008)

Travel patterns revealed over the festive period are being seen as an indication of a potential boom for Britain's tourism industry in 2009.

According to VisitBritain, 9.8 million Brits (21% of the population) are planning a trip within the UK over the holiday period. The higher-than-average figure is being blamed on the recession as careful Brits choose to avoid overseas holidays made more expensive by the falling Pound.

The weak Pound is expected to lure visitors from the Eurozone and America as well as domestic tourists.

The head of England marketing for VisitBritain, Amanda Smyth, says: “This is a real chance to remind Britons that a holiday in their own country can easily rival overseas destinations.”