February 2020

WARWICKSHIRE MEANS BUSINESS

Buoyant Warwickshire tourist sector set to hit record levels in 2020

"The sustained popularity of our county has a lot to do with the enterprise and hard work of our businesses and communities and the warm welcome they offer to visitors, providing a tourist experience which means that many visitors end their stay in the county intending to come back."

The latest tourism economic impact figures for Warwickshire show the county is strongly-placed to capitalise on a predicted record year for inbound tourism to the UK in 2020.

Forecasts from VisitBritain, the national tourism agency, indicate that 2020 will be a record year for the UK with spending by overseas visitors predicted to reach a record £26.6 billion, up by 6.6% on 2019.

The number of overseas visits to the UK is forecast to rise to 39.7 million, the highest ever and an increase of 2.9% on 2019.

The figures are highly encouraging after all the uncertainty surrounding Brexit and the very positive national outlook is matched locally in Warwickshire. The latest figures for the county reflect the buoyant national forecasts for sustained growth in the year ahead.

Each year Warwickshire County Council commissions an independent Tourism Economic Impact Assessment to measure the sector’s contribution to the county’s economy. The most recent report (2018) shows new record levels of jobs and income generated by the industry.

In 2018, tourism was worth an estimated £1.272 billion to the Warwickshire economy and accounted for some 23,000 jobs - a 13% increase on the previous year. Almost 17 million trips to the county were recorded. Most of these were day visits but the number of visitors staying overnight was boosted by 10% year on year, reaching 4.7 million bed nights for the first time.

Alex Holmes, Warwickshire County Council’s Visitor Economy Manager, believes the findings are hugely encouraging - and underline the enduring global appeal of the county's rich, historic and diverse tourist sector.

“We are delighted that tourism in Warwickshire continues to prosper and, despite the recent uncertainties about Brexit, shows every sign of achieving new records in the coming years," he said. "National indicators are bullish for the year ahead.

"In Warwickshire we are fortunate to have so many fantastic tourist attractions and the lure of the likes of Shakespeare and our many castles and stately homes remain a huge draw.

"But, beyond that, the sustained popularity of our county has a lot to do with the enterprise and hard work of our businesses and communities and the warm welcome they offer to visitors, providing a tourist experience which means that many visitors end their stay in the county intending to come back."

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