UAE travellers are among the most loyal visitors to the UK with 91 per cent of those arriving in the country on holiday enjoying a repeat visit, according to new data from a survey of 50,000 overseas visitors published by the UK’s national tourism agency, VisitBritain.
The figures show that UAE tourists visited the UK an average of nine times each in the last 10 years, indicating that many visit every year. The numbers make the UAE the third most loyal group of visitors in the world behind Luxembourg and Ireland, of which 99 per cent and 96 per cent respectively had visited the UK in the past decade.
The news has increased hopes at VisitBritain that the 2012 London Olympics and Paralympic Games will further boost travel to the UK from the region, especially among younger travellers who the agency hopes will become repeat visitors.
“The data shows that people from the UAE revisit the UK time and time again proving just how appealing Britain’s culture, architecture, attractions and events are to regional travellers,” said Carol Maddison, UAE manager at VisitBritain.
“With the Olympic Games being hosted by London in 2012 we are hoping that visitors from the UAE and across the Middle East will be further inspired to visit Britain either before or during the Games, and we are particularly looking forward to welcoming younger visitors, who once they experience the UK, will return again and again,” added Maddison.
UAE visitors heading to the UK in the run-up to the Olympic Games – which is taking place from July 27 to August 12, 2012 – will be able to enjoy a raft of unique events. Kick starting the Olympic season will be 12 weeks of cultural celebrations (from June 21 to September 9) that will see some of the world’s most creative artists, pop stars, opera divas and fashionistas joining the fun. Also in June, HM Queen Elizabeth II will celebrate her Diamond Jubilee that will see the nation congregate at special events to mark her 60 years on the throne.
Olympic-minded visitors heading to Britain may also like to take a trip to the picturesque market town of Much Wenlock which, unknown to many, is the site of the inspiration for the modern-day Olympic Games.
The town, located in Shropshire on the border between England and Wales, was home to Dr William Penny Brookes who first founded The Wenlock Olympian Society in 1850. Based on the principals of promoting ‘moral, physical and intellectual improvement’ the society ran an annual games event that included Greek classical and country sports such as running, quoits, football and cricket, as well as an event for ‘juveniles’ and a fun competition.
Today, visitors to Much Wenlock will find a small display of photographs and memorabilia relating to the Olympian Games in the town's museum, as well as the magnificent 15th century Guildhall where Brookes presided as a magistrate for more than 40 years. The Wenlock Olympian Games still take place every year during the second week of July.
The loyalty survey of 50,000 overseas visitors was carried out as part of the UK government’s International Passenger Survey. Overall, it revealed that 77 per cent had been to the UK at least once in the previous 10 years - and often many times.