Following a difficult two years for the tourism industry, because of the pandemic, international tourism has now been given the green light with all remaining Covid travel measures ending on 18th March.
This is great news for the Cotswolds and the destination management organisation, Cotswolds Tourism, who have been working directly with VisitBritain to ensure the area, is top of mind for international travellers and tour operators.
To help boost international visitor numbers, VisitBritain has just welcomed 50 international travel trade buyers to London, with smaller groups then heading out to the other major destinations in the UK. The travel trade experts from Germany visited Oxford before spending two days exploring the Cotswolds.
The group visited a range of Cotswold towns and attractions including Kiftsgate Garden, Sudeley Castle, The Wheatsheaf at Northleach,Chipping Campden and the Porch House Hotel in Stow on the Wold. They were kindly hosted overnight at Cotswolds Hotel Golf & Spa in Chipping Norton, where they met representatives from other Cotswold businesses including Rodmarton Manor, Cotswold Electric Bikes and Cotswolds Distillery before ending their visit with a traditional afternoon tea at The Feathers Hotel in Woodstock.
Next week Cotswolds Tourism will be taking part in VisitBritain’s virtual online trade event ExploreGB that brings together more than 330 global buyers with 370 tourism industry suppliers and destinations from across the UK.
Following the visit to London VisitBritain deputy CEO Patrica Yates said: “Working with the international trade, ensuring they are ready to sell Britain, is crucial to driving back bookings and spending. We also want to broaden travel itineraries, encouraging visitors to stay longer and explore further, and boost visits across the shoulder season, supporting local businesses, destinations and economies.”
The nation's tourism chiefs say they expect 21.1 million visitors coming to the UK this year - still just 52% of pre-pandemic levels in 2019.
It also anticipates spending of £16.9 billion - 59% of that seen in the year before Covid.