UK tourism suppliers are preparing to captivate key buyers from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and Asia by showcasing Britain as a must-visit destination. This effort is part of VisitBritain’s upcoming ‘Destination Britain Middle East and Asia’ trade mission scheduled for 20-22 November in Bengaluru, India.

This pivotal three-day event will bring together numerous industry suppliers from across Britain to engage with over 70 leading buyers from China, the GCC, Japan, India, and South Korea, aiming to boost tourism to Britain.

The gathering will feature hundreds of pre-arranged one-on-one business meetings, along with various networking events and informative seminars. These sessions will present Britain’s latest tourism offerings and experiences, enhancing international buyers’ knowledge about Britain’s high-quality tourism products and competitive travel packages. This initiative is designed to expand travel plans and increase visitor expenditures across regional British economies.

Tourism Minister Sir Chris Bryant said:

“We are determined for the UK to become the best country in the world to visit, and attract more inward investment. This trade mission to India is our latest move to boost business and trade for the UK’s visitor economy.

“Whether it’s castles in Wales or stately homes in England, thrilling football matches in Manchester or dazzling live music gigs in Liverpool, there are so many reasons to visit and invest in the UK.” 

VisitBritain CEO Patricia Yates, who is leading the trade mission to India, said:

“This major trade mission brings our very important and highly valuable GCC and Asia markets together with UK suppliers to do business, shining the spotlight on the fantastic products and experiences on offer across our nations and regions and making sure those are sold in international markets.

“Building product and destination knowledge also broadens travel itineraries so visitors explore more, including through our regional gateways, spreading the benefits of visitor spending across our nations and regions. 

“The size of our delegation shows the enthusiasm from tourism suppliers to do business across these markets and to hear first-hand from buyers on the motivations and trends driving outbound travel. We are looking forward to showcasing our warm welcome as well as all the great reasons to book a trip to Britain right now.” 

The trade mission features a wide array of participants from the UK, including hotels, visitor attractions, transport providers, retailers, and tour operators, representing the diverse offerings of Britain’s tourism industry.

Additionally, regional tourism groups like Visit Wales, Cumbria Tourism, Marketing Manchester, Newcastle Gateshead Initiative, Visit West, and West Midlands Growth Company will showcase their unique local offerings.

VisitBritain’s local teams will conduct seminars to aid UK tourism suppliers in understanding and tapping into markets across China, the Gulf, India, Japan, and South Korea, with a focus on the latest market and consumer trends.

This event sets the stage for VisitBritain’s upcoming ‘Starring GREAT Britain’ campaign, which is set to launch in early 2025. This campaign will highlight Britain’s role in popular films and TV shows to attract visitors to explore beyond traditional sites. Recent VisitBritain studies indicate that 90% of potential visitors from 20 different markets are keen on visiting film and TV locations in the UK.

Projected spending by visitors from China, the GCC, Japan, India, and South Korea is expected to contribute £5.6 billion to the UK economy this year, with the average spending per visit estimated at £1,836, significantly surpassing the general market average of £819.

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