Tourism brings cheer to UK economy ahead of 2024 Giving & Living trade show

Tourist hotspots around the UK are counting profits after another booming staycation season, with South West England one of the top choices for holidaymakers, home to the most important regional event of the trade show calendar, Giving & Living. The 2024 edition of Giving & Living will take place from 14 - 16 January at Westpoint, Exeter. 

Hospitality tech provider Zonal and CGA by NielsenIQ found in a survey of more than 2,000 UK consumers that 81% of respondents intended to holiday in a UK hotel this year. 44% avoided overseas trips due to cost-of-living increases, whilst 39% are staycationing because they prefer to travel within the UK, up 12% from 2022. 28% said they would stay in a UK hotel more than once this year. Weather extremes overseas have also made the more temperate British climate more appealing.

It isn’t just Brits who are enjoying the treasures our native shores have to offer. VisitBritain/VisitEngland reported that last year, the UK welcomed 31.2 million inbound visitors who spent £26.5 billion. Spend per visit in 2022 was well up on 2019, partly due to a longer than average length of stay for visitors, especially in the first quarter of the year.

The overall tourism forecast for 2023 is 37.5 million visitors, who are predicted to spend £30.9 billion. This is an upgrade on earlier forecasts due to strong end of year results for 2022. 

VisitBritain CEO Patricia Yates said: “Our upgraded forecast is on the back of the stronger recovery we’re seeing, led by the USA with spending by American visitors up 42% to a record £6 billion last year alone. Spending by visitors from our major European markets including France and Spain is also coming back strongly." 

Looking ahead to next year, the forecast is very positive, with visitor numbers expected to have fully recovered to their pre-Covid level by the end of 2024.

Giving & Living organiser, Mike Anderson of Hale Events said: “The British tourist trade is undoubtedly benefitting from the rise of staycations and continued enthusiasm for holidays closer to home. The restoration of visitor numbers from overseas is very positive news that bodes extremely well for the 2024 season." 

For more information about Giving & Living call +44 (0)1934 733433, email mail@hale-events.com, or visit https://givingliving.co.uk/.