As families cut back on foreign holidays, Britain’s tourism market is riding to the rescue
VisitBritain recently released statistics that show domestic tourism had risen by 11% during the first quarter of the year compared with the same period 12 months previously. Unsurprisingly the explanation put forward was that harder economic times are persuading holidaymakers to take UK breaks rather than trips abroad.
Since then the Euro has consolidated its strong position against Sterling, fuel prices have soared and the credit crunch has left many people feeling unsure about the future. The family holiday abroad, for so long a must-have necessity, is suffering from the full effects of the economic upheaval and is set to be replaced by domestic breaks for a large part of the population. Late summer bookings in the domestic tourism sector are looking strong and the trend looks as though it will continue well into next year.
Christopher Rodrigues, the chairman of VisitBritain, sees 2009 as the year of the domestic holiday. “Next year,” he says, “we are going to be tasting some new experiences. Disposable income pressure by then will be very real, and that could be good for the domestic tourism market.”
The independent hospitality sector is best placed to benefit from an upturn in the UK holiday market as it often offers a more bespoke alternative and is more keenly priced than larger branded concerns. However the independent sector often has more difficulty promoting its greater value hospitality and accommodation because it does not possess the same marketing clout as larger UK holiday and hotel chains.
Discover Global Bookings aims to help the UK independent accommodation sector build themselves an online platform that both promotes and takes room bookings through a variety of channels. Created to level the playing field between the branded and independent sectors, Discover Global Bookings offers hotels, inns and guest houses an unparalleled opportunity to reach families who are eschewing a foreign holiday in favour of booking a UK break.
Offering a great return on investment to hospitality providers, the Discover Global Bookings solution integrates with the property’s own website and over 5,000 other online tourism websites to ensure that subscriber’s properties are marketed to millions of people seeking an alternative holiday in the UK. In addition to the domestic market, instant online bookings can also be taken from many more millions of people from around the world who are searching for accommodation in Britain.
The flexibility of the Discover Global Bookings system enables hospitality providers to promote key features and deals that form the unique selling points for all individual hospitality businesses. Accommodation providers are able to promote particular services, menus, attractions and tailored packages to potential guests. For those looking for leisure accommodation, the holiday feeling often begins with the satisfaction of booking a traditional and bespoke British holiday online.
Packages from Discover Global Bookings are currently available at heavily discounted prices and start from £295. The once only payment offers subscribers ongoing access to all the benefits Discover Global Bookings has to offer hospitality businesses. Small room commissions are payable on each booking.
Andrew Grieve, Managing Director of Discover Global Bookings, commented: “Tougher times for many people in Britain will strangely mean better times for the domestic tourism market.
“We are currently offering discounted subscriptions to accommodation providers and it is an ideal time for businesses to take advantage of an upturn in UK tourism bookings by signing up. We’re confident that Discover Global Bookings can make a real difference to the turnover of any independent hospitality business in Britain.”