OVER 11 MILLION BRITS TO TAKE A BREAK IN BRITAIN OVER THE FESTIVE PERIOD

Over 11 million Brits (23% of the adult population) are planning to take an overnight trip in Britain over the two-week festive period, according to VisitEngland’s Christmas Trip Tracker survey released today.  Almost 10 million Brits (20%) will take that trip in England; an increase of two per cent from the same period last year.

VisitEngland Announces Latest Domestic Tourism Figures

VisitEngland, the national tourist board, today announced domestic tourism figures for January to August this year. The number of overnight holiday trips in England increased year on year by 4 per cent, with holiday spend growing by 12 per cent.

VisitEngland announces latest Domestic Tourism Figures at World Travel Market 2011

Today at the annual World Travel Market event in London, VisitEngland announced domestic tourism figures for January to July this year.

VisitEngland & cottages4you launch TV campaign

VisitEngland, the national tourist board, and leading holiday rental agency cottages4you, part of the Hoseasons Group, have today announced an exciting partnership to promote cottage holidays in England next year.

VISITENGLAND RESEARCH REVEALS STAYCATION TREND HOLDING STRONG

Figures released today by VisitEngland, the national tourist board, reveal that the number of people enjoying a ‘staycation’ in 2011 has remained steady from last year.

VisitEngland's 2012 marketing campaign

Today at World Travel Market in London, the Secretary of State, Jeremy Hunt launches VisitEngland’s 2012 holiday-at-home marketing campaign.  The three-year campaign will kick off in February next year with a TV advertisement and is aimed at inspiring Britons to take more short-breaks in England.

VisitEngland Hosts First Ever Visitor Economy Forum

VisitEngland, the national tourist board, invites industry stakeholders to attend the first English Visitor Economy Forum in London on 1 December 2011.  The event is aimed at the entire domestic travel industry, and is an opportunity to debate some of the big issues affecting the growth of the visitor economy with a broad mix of industry interests.

VisitEngland wins British Travel Award 2011!

VisitEngland is proud and delighted to announce that it has been named in the British Travel Awards 2011 as the winner of ‘Best Tourist Board Website’.  As the largest awards programme in the UK created to reward the best companies and organisations in travel, the BTAs are a benchmark for excellence in the industry, with over 700,000 votes cast by the public this year.

Regional Growth Fund Bid is Successful

The money will be used on a three-year project entitled, ‘Growing Tourism Locally’ to stimulate economic growth and jobs at a local level.

VisitEngland Launches Online Tool for Pubs to Improve Access for Visitors

VisitEngland, the national tourist board, today launches a new version of the Access Statement Online Tool, aimed at helping businesses cater for visitors with access needs.  This new version is specifically tailored for pubs and has been created in partnership with the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA).

VISITENGLAND PARTNERS WITH ENGLAND RUGBY PLAYER TO PROMOTE 2015 ENGLAND RUGBY WORLD CUP

VisitEngland, the national tourist board, has partnered with ex-England Rugby legend, Martin Corry, to promote the 2015 England Rugby World Cup to potential domestic and overseas visitors.  The announcement comes as the Rugby World Cup comes to an end in New Zealand, and England takes over as the forthcoming host nation.

Tourism Minister, John Penrose joins VisitEngland to launch English Tourism Week 2012

Today at the annual Visitor Attractions Conference, the Tourism Minister John Penrose joined VisitEngland’s Chairman Lady Cobham, to launch English Tourism Week which will take place for the first time in March next year. Mr Penrose challenged delegates, many of whom were from organisations such as the National Trust, English Heritage and some of the leading attractions in the country, to get involved and use the week to shine a light on tourism in England.

VisitEngland Announces Six- Month Tourism Figures at ABTA Travel Convention

Today at the annual ABTA Travel Convention in Palma, Majorca, VisitEngland announced domestic tourism figures for January to June this year. The number of holiday trips in England increased year on year by 3 per cent, and tourism spend increased by 10 per cent. Although the number of trips taken is lower than in the exceptional “staycation” year of 2009, levels are still far ahead of pre-recession volumes, showing that Brits have not lost their appetite to holiday at home.

VisitEngland Launches Online Tool for Nature Reserves to Improve Access for Visitors

9 September 2011.  VisitEngland, the national tourist board, today launches a new version of the Access Statement Online Tool, aimed at helping businesses cater for visitors with access needs.  This new version is specifically tailored for nature reserves and has been created in partnership with the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB).

£3m from Olympic budget to boost domestic tourism

James Berresford VisitEngland’s CEO commented:

"The announcement today by Jeremy Hunt of £3 million from the Olympic budget to boost domestic tourism is extremely welcome.  We are delighted to be working alongside Government to ensure the full potential of the Olympics, the Diamond Jubilee, the Cultural Olympiad and all the events of 2012 are realised by the tourism sector across the country through the delivery of a joint marketing campaign with industry....."

Top Tips to Improve Access Ahead of 2012 Games

Discover Top 5 Tips on how to access more business in 2012 and watch the new video in our Profiting through Accessible Tourism series.

New Star Rating Scheme for Motorway Service Areas

On the 25 August 2011 VisitEngland announced the results of a new star rating scheme for motorway service areas (MSAs) around the country, revealing 86% to be three star and above.

Bank Holiday Trip Tracker results

8.4 million (17%) Brits will take that trip in England according to VisitEngland’s Bank Holiday Trip Tracker survey released today.

Visitor Attractions in England Boosted by 3% Increase in 2010

Admissions to England’s visitor attractions rose by 3 per cent in 2010 according to VisitEngland’s Annual Visitor Attractions Survey. The boost in visits was driven predominantly by free attractions which increased by 6 per cent with paid attractions reporting an overall decline of 1 per cent  reflecting the predisposition of the nation to tighten its belt during times of economic uncertainty.

Sunshine and a Double Bank Holiday Give Domestic Tourism a Great Boost in April

29 July 2011: VisitEngland, the national tourist board today reports that the warm weather and an extra bank holiday had a positive impact on domestic tourism, with overnight trips taken in Great Britain up by 5 per cent (12 million visits) making this April the best ever over the past 5 years.

English Tourism Industry Confident of a Strong Summer

25 July 2011.   Results released today from VisitEngland’s Business Confidence Monitor show the majority of accommodation businesses were very or quite satisfied with their performance over the period from May this year to July, although many reported definite signs of consumers having to save money.

VISITENGLAND REPORTS STRONG FIRST QUARTER GROWTH IN DOMESTIC HOLIDAYS & ATTRACTIONS.

21 July 2011: VisitEngland, the national tourist board, today reports that in the first quarter of 2011, the number of domestic overnight trips taken in Great Britain were up 5 per cent, and in England were up 4 per cent compared to 2010.  Visits to attractions in England also received a boost with a 7 per cent increase in the same period.

VISITENGLAND HOSTS FIRST 2012 CONFERENCE FOR NATIONAL TOURISM INDUSTRY

14 July 2011: Today VisitEngland, the national tourist board plays host to the first 2012 conference dedicated to the English tourism industry.  Held at the impressive 2012 Olympic Games venue, the Ricoh Arena in Coventry, the event brings together tourism experts from around England to learn about the opportunities that events like The Games offer the industry next year.

VisitEngland Unveils QR Pilot Scheme to Modernise Visitor Information

11 July 2011.  Today, VisitEngland, unveiled an ambitious new initiative using 2D bar code technology in the form of QR codes to modernise visitor information.  This exciting scheme will run in Shrewsbury, Leicester, Chester, Rochester and Rutland as a pilot for six months with the aim of inspiring visitors to spend more time in the area they are visiting and stay longer.

Response to the announcement by the London 2012 Olympic Organising Committee (LOCOG) of the London 2012 Festival

21 June 2011. In response to the announcement by the London 2012 Olympic Organising Committee (LOCOG) of the London 2012 Festival, James Berresford, VisitEngland’s Chief Executive comments.

THREE NEW DOMESTIC TOURISM FORUMS LAUNCHED BY VISITENGLAND

16 June 2011. Today, at the Partners for England Forum held in London, VisitEngland’s Chairman, Lady Cobham announced plans to launch three new specialist tourism forums, significantly stepping up the national tourist board’s engagement programme with the domestic tourism industry.

Double Bank Holiday Boosts UK Tourism Industry

25 May 2011. Results released today from VisitEngland’s Business Confidence Monitor show the majority of accommodation businesses were very or quite satisfied with their performance over the Easter Holiday period, and 28% said the Royal Wedding and double bank holiday had a positive effect.

VisitEngland's response to LOCOG Announcement

18 May 2011. In response to the announcement by the London 2012 Olympic Organising Committee (LOCOG) of the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay route, James Berresford, VisitEngland’s Chief Executive comments.

VisitEngland Launches New Digital Products to Modernise Visitor Information

VisitEngland, today launches a set of new digital products aimed at modernising visitor information for the 21st century traveller.   The launch includes a brand new www.enjoyengland.com,   the official free Enjoy England iPhone app, and a pilot scheme using QR codes, hailing the start of an exciting new direction for visitor information in this country.

BRITS SET TO ENJOY THE DOUBLE BANK HOLIDAY WITH 10.3 MILLION TAKING A UK BREAK

20 April 2011 – 10.3 million Brits (21 per cent of the population) plan to make the most of the double bank holiday this year by taking at least one overnight stay in the UK, with  8.6 million people   (17%) planning to  take that trip in England according to VisitEngland’s Easter Holiday Trip Tracker.

VisitEngland announces winners of The Enjoy England Awards for Excellence 2011

The Royal Shakespeare Company has scooped the award for Outstanding Contribution to Tourism at the 2011 Enjoy England Awards for Excellence, organised by VisitEngland and sponsored by The Caravan Club.

National Tourism Authorities Join Forces on Green Tourism

Over the past few years, a number of certification schemes specifically tailored for the tourism industry have become available to tourism businesses across Ireland and the UK.  A business receives certification when it has achieved a certain level of sustainability and, once awarded, can be used for marketing and promotional purposes.

ENGLAND’S FINEST SET TO BATTLE IT OUT AT THE 2011 TOURISM AWARDS - February 2011

England’s fine and mighty have stepped forward to compete for this year’s Enjoy England Awards for Excellence, sponsored by The Caravan Club.  These prestigious awards currently in their 22nd year celebrate the very best the country has to offer.  Amongst the shortlisted winners for 2011 are the former home of W H Smith, a converted chapel, a café offering foraged food, lodges made of reclaimed telegraph poles, an eco pub offering carbon neutral vodka, an English royal horse racing event, a surfing food trail and some big sheep!

VisitEngland launches first Green London Map at the Savoy

In these environmentally-conscious times, we should all be leading greener lives – but while cutting our carbon footprint might be the right thing to do, it doesn’t always feel like much fun.  So wouldn’t it be great if some of the most enjoyable things in life – a sexy weekend away, slap-up lunches, shopping sprees, a swanky cocktail or two – came with an eco-friendly tag?

Think Growth. Think Tourism - Integrating tourism into local economic planning

On the 14 March, at the start of British Tourism Week, tourism in England was  given a major boost by speeches of support for the industry from HRH The Prince of Wales, and Tourism Minister John Penrose, at a tourism summit hosted by VisitEngland in Cambridge.

VisitEngland Launches www.visitengland.org The National Tourist Board’s New Corporate Website

Ever wondered how many visitors a year England welcomes?  Or, how much the industry is worth? Or, what VisitEngland’s latest research is saying?  The answers to these questions and many more can be found on www.visitengland.org, the national tourist board’s brand new website designed specifically for the industry. 

NEW TOURISM BOOKLET PUBLISHED ON ACCESSIBLE MARKET WORTH

The most comprehensive business case for accessible tourism in England launches today.  The booklet, entitled ‘At Your Service’, has been created through a joint partnership between the Government’s Accessible Tourism Stakeholder Forum and VisitEngland with the aim of inspiring tourism businesses to improve accessibility for customers in the lead up to the London 2012 Olympic Games & Paralympic Games.