Tourism is an important source of revenue
for many small businesses.
In 2003, overseas visitors to UK spent
over £12 billion, while expenditure by domestic tourists (who
spent at a night away from home) reached £27 billion. On top
of this the expenditure by people on day trips amounted to
over £34 billion. Overall the industry employs nearly 2.1
million people or 7% of those in employment.
However, the industry is highly
fragmented with over 127,000 businesses, 80% of which have a
turnover of less than £250,000 per annum.
Customers who choose to travel are often
affluent, active, well travelled and comfortable with using
the technology. In fact, technology plays a vital role in
helping them to identify the best deal that suits their
requirements.
The industry is under pressure to adapt
to customers who are constantly seeking memorable, high
quality and value for money experiences. There is a growing
interest in shorter and more frequent holidays where they
experience a rich and varied culture.
Small businesses are therefore facing an
increasingly competitive market with more destinations chasing
the same customers. Our vision is to support them to better
understand the changing customer needs and to compete for
reasonable share of the market. We aim to provide them with
the opportunity to get across the incredible diversity of
products and services that will draw customers for that unique
experience.
Our support covers businesses within:
- Hotels & Tourist Accommodation
- Travel Agencies & Tour Operators
- Leisure Activities
- Tourist Attractions
- Entertainment
- Museums & Galleries
TOURISM 
