Last week in Parliament, Nigel Huddleston MP marked English Tourism Week by asking the Leader of the House of Commons, Chris Grayling, for a debate on the important contribution made by tourism to the UK economy.
A record 35.8 million visitors came to the UK last year, with six million more visits in 2015 than 2010, an increase of 20 per cent. Visitors spent £21.8 billion in the UK last year, in line with 2014’s record breaking figure. A record number of holiday visits to the UK was recorded (13.7 million visits), one per cent up on 2014, as well as those visiting friends and relatives (10.5 million), up seven per cent on 2014. Visits for business (8.7 million) increased six per cent on 2014.
Tourism is Britain’s seventh largest export industry and third largest service sector. Inbound tourism is calculated to be worth more than £26 billion to the UK economy.
Tourism outside London is at the highest level since the financial crisis but remains still comparatively low. 14.87m visited Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and English cities outside London, just shy of the 13.87m visits to London alone.
Nigel brought the latest record statistics to Parliament’s attention and added,
“We need to get people outside London and visiting other areas of the country such as Worcestershire, where perhaps they could visit the Fleece Inn, which this week was named tourism pub of the year.”
The Bretforton Pub took top honours in the Tourism Pub award at the VisitEngland awards in Blackpool last week. Nigel visited the pub to congratulate them on their nomination prior to the awards event.
The Leader of the House of Commons replied,
“We absolutely want more tourism in Worcestershire, and although hon. Members will spend much of the recess hard at work in their constituencies, I hope there will be a moment for them to pay a visit to Worcestershire and take advantage of the fine hospitality that they will find. I am sure my hon. Friend would be delighted for the whole House to visit.”
Nigel has also invited the Tourism Minister, David Evennett, to visit Worcestershire to see all the county has to offer. The Minister hopes to visit before summer.
ENDS
Nigel is pictured with Nigel Smith, landlord of The Fleece Inn.
For more information contact Nigel Huddleston on 07789983719 or his Parliamentary office on 0207 219 5814