VisitBritain is gearing up to host virtually its annual flagship trade event ExploreGB, from February 27 to March 3. ExploreGB Virtual is bringing together more than 200 global buyers to connect online and do business with 320 tourism industry suppliers and destinations from across Britain.
The five-day program of virtual events gives destinations and suppliers the chance to promote their tourism products and services to top global buyers and forge valuable business connections. Travel industry buyers from more than 20 countries are joining the virtual event including from Australia, China, the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) markets, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the U.S. More than 10,000 pre-scheduled one-to-one virtual business meetings will take place during the event. ExploreGB Virtual accommodates all times zones with a scheduled program of one-to-one virtual appointments for suppliers and international buyers from both short and long-haul destinations. Delegates can manage their own diaries across the event with the virtual platform open daily from 1 to 6 p.m. EST.
The event finishes on Friday, March 3 with VisitBritain hosting "PR Connect." Destination management organizations (DMOs) across England, Scotland and Wales will have one-to-one meetings with VisitBritain international teams, sharing stories to inspire international travelers to visit Britain now.
Later this month, VisitBritain is also set to launch its new multimillion-pound "GREAT Britain" campaign in markets where it is seeing strong recovery and growth, including the U.S., GCC countries and such European markets as France, Germany and Spain, working with partners in market to drive bookings. The campaign encourages visitors to "See Things Differently," positioning Britain as a dynamic, fun and inclusive destination and promoting messages of warm British welcome. The campaign will also capture major events in 2023 including the Coronation of King Charles III in May, with an additional bank holiday announced, and Liverpool hosting the Eurovision Song Contest, on behalf of Ukraine, also in May.
ExploreGB follows VisitBritain’s "Showcase Britain" event earlier this month, which saw 120 international buyers from 16 markets undertake educational visits across Britain, experiencing the latest tourism products and experiences on offer.
VisitBritain’s latest inbound tourism forecast shows continued strong recovery in overseas visitor spending this year. Its latest forecast for 2023 is for overseas visitor spending in the U.K. of £29.5 billion (approximately $35.3 billion), up 4 percent on the all-time spending high of £28.4 billion in 2019. It estimates 35.1 million inbound visits to the U.K., 86 percent of 2019 levels.
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