UK visitors from the UAE are increasing and spending more on average, say executives with Britain’s Tourist Authority, VisitBritain.
Since 2000, growth in UAE travel to the UK has grown 95% and their financial outgoings has made them the second biggest spenders in all of the Asia Pacific Middle East and Africa (APMEA) market.
VisitBritain marketing manager Carol Maddison said visitors from the region had more to see and do than ever before.
“Now it’s even more affordable, so we are not at all surprised to see UAE visitor numbers and related spend continuing to climb,” she said.
UAE visitor spend in the UK showed 24% growth in 2008 over 2007. 2008 saw 232,000 UAE-based travellers to the UK spending GBP 289 million (US $462 million). Those 2008 figures, though still provisional, represent a significant jump over 2007 figures which account for 187,000 UAE visitors spending GBP 189 million ($302 million).
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VisitBritain recently conducted its annual trade gathering, Destination Britain & Ireland, at which travel trade buyers, decision makers and media from more than 15 markets in the APMEA region congregated.
According to Maddison, VisitBritain fully recognised and acknowledged the challenges facing suppliers and buyers and the forum was used as a way to provide attendees with the knowledge and skills needed to address the challenges in the year ahead.
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