VISITBRITAIN has welcomed the news that the UK has retained its high ranking in the league table of the world’s most admired countries maintaining fourth place as an overall brand out of 50 nations behind the US, Germany and France in the annual Nation Brand Index survey (NBI).
The result, based on interviews with 20,000 adults worldwide, is an important indicator of how countries are regarded by the public. The survey acts as a report card, measuring the world’s perception of each nation as if they were commercial brands.
The UK also retained its fifth position as a desirable tourism destination. It is also ranked fourth in the world for being ‘rich in historic buildings and monuments’ and for having a ‘vibrant city life and urban attractions’.
With the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games just over a year away, exhibitions and events across the UK are already being set up with the aim of welcoming visitors from across the globe.
From London’s theatreland to Edinburgh’s festivals, millions of visitors will find bigger and better cultural events spanning music and dance to comedy and cinema.
“Britain is already gearing up for the fantastic festivities that will take place in 2012 for the Olympic and Paralympic Games. It will be a unique celebration that will showcases the best of British arts and culture. This will be an exciting time for guests visiting the UK,” said Carol Maddison UAE manager, VisitBritain.
To kick start the Olympic season which runs from July 27 to August 12, 2012, the UK will embark on 12 weeks of cultural celebrations (June 21 to September 9) which will see the arrival of some of the world’s most creative artists, pop stars, opera divas and fashionistas joining the fun.
Also in June is HM The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.
Visitors travelling around London and the rest of Britain can also enjoy substantial savings on bus, tube, light railway and tram routes and can travel by train to any destination in Britain for excellent value for money with discounts from BritRail.
“Travelling around the UK has always been easy but for tourists heading here for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games journeys will be made even more cost-effective with substantial savings on public transport. The Olympic Park will be accessible by tube, train, bus, coach, the Docklands Light Railway and by river,” said Maddison.
For other keen sports enthusiasts eager to travel around the UK, 18 Live Sites will be set up from Edinburgh to Portsmouth where residents and tourists will be able to watch their favourite sporting heroes on the large screen.
London’s hotel room supply is forecast to increase by 12 per cent between now and 2012 – an increase of 13,300 rooms. With the addition of self-catering and university accommodation this takes the total hotel room supply in the capital to more than 140,000.