Barclays Research Predicts a Strong Year for British Hospitality Sector

According to Barclays research the British hotel and leisure industry is set for a record year.

A study from the Barclays Corporate banking report, Destination UK, driving growth in the UK hospitality and leisure sector revealed the 2017 holiday and leisure preferences of around 10,000 people. The survey was conducted in UK, continental Europe, the US, Middle East, Asia and Australia.

Around 63 per cent of the international holidaymakers said that they preferred vacationing in UK this time than last year, however 31 per cent cited the weaker pound.

High-profile advertising campaigns had effect on the overseas audiences, while a fifth of the respondents mentioned that TV programmes like The Crown were driving the British appeal among the 44% of Chinese and 26% of the US guests.

‘Staycation' was also on rise with almost a third of the UK holidaymakers willing to spend a major time of their holiday in UK this year. Greater spending power was a major reason for greater interest in the UK visits.

Food, language and hassle free travel options drove half of the UK respondents to choose a spending time in the UK.

Around 22% of the holidaymakers were willing to shell more than £1,000 on their UK breaks and the research showed that the average British budget for UK breaks was £800.

Post Brexit, 52 % of the international holidaymakers had no impact of their likelihood to visit the UK. Nearly a third had more chances of visiting the UK than before the referendum.

Nearly , a quarter were less likely to visit the UK post-Brexit being worried about the onward travel to other European destinations.

However, the study also highlighted the role of the UK as a tourism hub with nearly a quarter (24%) of those who said they would be less likely to visit the UK post-Brexit citing worries about onward travel to other European destinations.

According to Mike Saul, head of hospitality and leisure at Barclays, 2017 will be a strong year for the British hospitality sector where both domestic and international visitors increasingly intent on spending more time here.

The UK's international appeal has increased due to the impact of the weak sterling. UK is gradually turning into a world class destination due to its high quality hospitality being offered.

He further added the global British TV programmes and the UK operator's advertising campaigns is alluring the holidaymakers to visit from which the UK will benefit.