With a specific focus on the Cotswolds and Oxfordshire, the Prime Minister’s constituency, UKinbound together with VisitBritain raised the profile of the area’s unique attractions.
UKinbound and VisitBritain united with Oxfordshire Cotswold Tourism Services to welcome Prime Minister, David Cameron, at the first Senior Executive Seminar of the year to discuss the value of inbound tourism to the UK and its impact on the national economy.
This highly anticipated seminar hosted at Eynsham Hall, Witney, Oxfordshire brought together a number of local businesses and key UKinbound members to highlight the importance of regional development, with the aim of attracting more international visitors who are looking beyond London for their travels.
With a specific focus on the Cotswolds and Oxfordshire, the Prime Minister’s constituency, UKinbound together with VisitBritain raised the profile of the area’s unique attractions, from the beauty of the Cotswolds and surrounding countryside to Bicester Village and the heritage of Blenheim Palace. The discussion also centred on the current challenges faced by the industry, as well as opportunities for growth which draw on local events and world heritage sites. The Prime Minister offered his support to regional tourism and emphasised the overall value of inbound tourism in the UK, confirming the industry’s position as the seventh biggest export earner.
UKinbound’s Chief Executive Officer, Deirdre Wells OBE, said: “It has been an honour to welcome the Prime Minister here today and to thank him for the support he has shown to UK inbound tourism and its continued development. His presence is testament to the importance of this industry and he has given us the vote of confidence needed to continue our efforts.”
Sally Balcombe, Chief Executive at VisitBritain added: “The natural beauty of a destination’s landscapes remains one of the most important drivers for international travel. Our recently launched Countryside is GREAT campaign will be our biggest effort yet to distribute these valuable international tourists, not only to the Cotswolds, but across the nations and regions of Britain. We will continue to focus on rebalancing this growing industry to benefit the whole country throughout 2015 and beyond.
“Inbound tourism is an export industry at which Britain is demonstrably successful – breaking records for visitors in 2014 with further growth predicted in 2015 and VisitBritain has played a key role in this success.”
Photo caption: Sally Balcombe, CEO VisitBritain, Prime Minister David Cameron and Deirdre Wells OBE, CEO UKinbound.
Vicky is the co-founder of TravelDailyNews Media Network where she is the Editor-in Chief. She is also responsible for the daily operation and the financial policy. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Tourism Business Administration from the Technical University of Athens and a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Wales.
She has many years of both academic and industrial experience within the travel industry. She has written/edited numerous articles in various tourism magazines.
