By Andrew Gibson
Trivago, which is a hotel comparison website has carried out research showing that the UK has become more popular as a tourist destination. In 2010 Britain was the eighth most popular tourist destination in Europe and it has now improved to fifth palace. It is behind Spain, Germany, Italy and France, but is still doing very well. The biggest rise in interest has come from France as well as Ireland, Spain, Italy and Germany.
Part of the reason for this is probably the cost of travelling to Britain. With sterling being such a good bargain at the moment, many people are finding that travelling from Europe means that they are getting a great deal when they pay for their hotel rooms etc in sterling. In 2005 Sterling was expensive and you would get 0.66 pounds to the Euro, now it is weak and so 0.89 pounds can be got per Euro. This is a difference of 25% and so in effect means that prices have gone down that much.
However, despite the fact that they are seemingly not travelling because they like the UK but just because it is cheap, it will have some great advantages to us. It will boost our economy as they are spending their money here, which is great but also it will hopefully endear visitors to the country, they may recommend it to others or return, which can only be great news for us. Hopefully the tourist board will make the most of it and increase their marketing of the country as well.
