UK delegation head to Shanghai to promote tourism post London 2012

Demonstrating the importance of the Chinese market, an influential tourism delegation from the UK will visit Shanghai this week to create more business opportunities as a result of the renewed interest in Britain post London 2012 and Diamond Jubilee.
 
The Shard, Arsenal Football Club, Harrods, John Lewis and Selfridges join VisitBritain’s latest mission to create a tourism legacy which generates immediate income for the UK. The group also includes national and regional tourism boards, city and tourist attraction promotion organisations, travel agencies, hotel groups, major retail groups and specialist tour operators.
 
Research by VisitBritain shows that Chinese visitors are drawn here by our rich culture and heritage, enchanting countryside and shopping experiences. Last year a record 150,000 visitors arrived in the UK from China, spending £240m in the process. Over the last five years the UK has welcomed a 39 per cent rise in visits from China, and VisitBritain hopes that by 2020 it can attract an additional 233,000 visitors, a 156 per cent increase.
 
China mission leader and VisitBritain’s Director of Overseas, Keith Beecham, says: “The UK tourism opportunities from China are vast, numerous and there to be developed further, especially in this crucial post-London 2012 period.
 
“Such was the demand from the industry that our mission could have been booked more than three times over. Everyone now recognises that China is a hugely important market for tourism and these business trips will help us achieve our target of welcoming 382,000 Chinese visitors by 2020.”
 
To help improve an understanding of the UK’s visa system for Chinese visitors, VisitBritain has also announced that it would be adding a visa training module to its BritAgent programme. Travel agents play a vital role in China, with 80 per cent of bookings made through conventional travel agents.
 
Do you have a news story for CN? Email: vcarley@mashmedia.net