Whether you’re looking for a bustling city break, a peaceful holiday by the coast or a cheap holiday for singles, the UK has plenty to offer. The UK tourism industry has recently received recognition by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) as new research reveals that it’s the country’s fastest-growing sector. A recent article published on Breaking Travel News, explains that the UK is the world’s seventh most popular tourist destination and the fourth in Europe.
The WTTC represents the private sector of travel and tourism. Their research revealed that 11.9% of all jobs in the country are in the travel sector, followed by financial services at 8.9% and banking at 3.4%. Tourism generates £231.6bn towards the UK’s GDP, making it the fifth-largest sector for GDP contribution.
The research, which was sponsored by American Express, involved comparing data across 26 countries and ten world regions, looking at the travel industry’s economic impact compared to the other eight key sectors; agriculture, mining, health, automotive manufacturing, retail, financial services, banking and construction. The results showed positive news for tourism, unlike banking which had the poorest performance.
WTTC’s research falls on the 50th anniversary of the Development in Tourism Act which aimed to improve tourist amenities and facilities to attract both domestic and foreign visitors.
The president of the WTTC Gloria Guevara comments, as reported on Breaking Travel News: “As we know and is now reaffirmed by this benchmarking research, the tourism sector underpins much of UK spending and supports jobs.
“WTTC commends the UK government for recognising the clear importance of the industry as a driver of economic growth and for their strategy in spreading the benefits of the industry across the country.”
If you’re ready to experience the great hospitality in the UK’s travel and tourism industry, then browse our UK destinations and find the perfect solo holiday to enjoy.
