VisitEngland in partnership with the tourism organisations of London, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales has launched the next phase of its UK-wide campaign to boost domestic day trips and overnight breaks in the run-up to summer.
The ‘Escape the Everyday’ campaign, which first launched in autumn 2020, highlights the quality destinations, visitor attractions and experiences on offer across the UK to build back demand for domestic breaks.
And this next phase of the campaign ‘Escape the Everyday – Enjoy the UK this Summer,’ with the theme ‘reconnecting with people and places’, has a focus on cities and city visitor attractions as well as regional gateways which have been particularly hard hit by the lack of international visitors, and that rely on overseas visitors and their spending.
The £5 million campaign kicked off on May 20 across the tourism agency’s own channels with a short video and branded content across social media with on demand television advertising from May 25. The paid multi-media campaign then ramps up as the summer season approaches and in line with each nations’ roadmap.
Bringing back the visitors
The content also drives online traffic to www.visitbritain.com/escape with ideas and links to information on city (and town) focused experiences across the nations and regions – and the campaign is also calling for tourism businesses, visitor attractions and destinations across the UK to get involved.
It comes as the tourism agency’s latest forecasts show that domestic tourism spending is estimated this year of £51.4 billion, just over half of the £91.6 billion in 2019. Last year alone saw about two-thirds of the value wiped off the domestic tourism industry in Britain, a £58 billion loss to the economy. Its forecast for inbound tourism spending in the UK this year is £6.2 billion, less than a quarter of the £28.4 billion in 2019.
Tourism minister Nigel Huddleston said: “Our brilliant tourism and hospitality sector has faced unprecedented challenges over the past year, which is why we’ve already provided £25 billion in support, including £5 billion in VAT cuts.
“There is so much to see and do across the whole of the UK and our great cities have lots to offer. Whether you’d rather visit a museum or gallery, browse in a bookshop or enjoy first rate hospitality, I encourage everyone to get out there to explore our wonderful cities and support domestic tourism.”
Supporting local businesses and attractions
VisitEngland director of marketing Clare Mullin said: “By highlighting the quality and sheer diversity of tourism products, destinations and experiences, we want to inspire people to explore what’s here on our doorstep, to reconnect with places they love and to support local businesses and visitor attractions as they reopen and rebuild.
“Our cities and city visitor attractions have also been particularly hard hit by the lack of overseas visitors. With international tourists slower to return, this really is the year to rediscover the crown jewels of tourism in our vibrant cities with their outstanding mix of contemporary culture, buzzing hospitality, world-renowned heritage and first-class visitor attractions.
“Businesses across the sector have been working flat-out to welcome visitors back safely, adapting and innovating to meet new ways of working and still providing a great experience. They will be very pleased to see you.”
A free Escape the Everyday campaign toolkit is available for destinations and tourism businesses across the UK with campaign information, ways to get involved and marketing materials that can be adapted to promote local products and services, attractions and experiences with the theme of ‘reconnection.’
Visitors’ “Wait and see” approach
VisitEngland’s latest “domestic consumer sentiment” research showed that while bookings for domestic trips for spring had accelerated, with just over half of domestic trips planned between May and June booked, the summer months are slower with just under a third of trips between July to September booked, suggesting a ‘wait and see’ approach.
The research has also shown slow but steady gains in consumer confidence in taking domestic trips from late spring and rising through summer, demonstrating the importance of extending the tourism season this year – but there is still a job to do to boost confidence.
More than 47,000 businesses across the UK have signed up to the ‘We’re Good To Go’ industry standard reassuring customers, staff and local residents that the correct procedures and processes are in place to welcome them back safely.
The ‘Escape the Everyday – Enjoy the UK this Summer’ campaign is part of the UK Government’s GREAT Britain and Northern Ireland campaign.
Tourism is usually worth £127 billion to the UK economy, employing 3.1 million people and supporting more than 200,000 small and medium sized businesses.
Image Credits: Nick Forman .