As VisitBritain hosts its annual GCC travel trade mission in Saudi Arabia for the first time this week, figures show that during the first three quarters of 2013, total visits from GCC countries to the UK were up by 10% on the same period in 2012, whilst spend increased by 11%.
£1 billion spent in 9 months
This growth resulted in visits and spend hitting new records for the January to September period, with just over £1 billion spent during 452,000 total visits from the six GCC countries – Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar.
GCC trade mission to build on this growth
VisitBritain’s GCC trade mission aims to build on this growth, providing UK suppliers with the opportunity to meet more than sixty travel agents from across Saudi Arabia to promote holiday destinations, tour packages and attractions from all over Britain, highlighting attractive deals available to GCC holidaymakers in the lead up to the long summer break and school holidays.
Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum & Tour will be among the suppliers attending the mission and Britain’s strong retail offering will be showcased by Westfield UK and Bicester Village, and the mission is held at the Four Seasons Hotel in Riyadh on 10 February and Le Meridian in Jeddah on 11 February.
Saidi Arabia to show highest growth
VisitBritain predicts that by 2020 Saudi Arabia will have the highest projected value percentage growth – 181% – amongst the twenty major and emerging markets in VisitBritain’s tourism strategy. It is also among the top five most high-spending markets for Britain, with an average spend per visit of £2,354, whilst the overall average for all visitors to Britain is £600 per visit.