Royal Family helps UK tourism

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[AbsolutelyWilliam] Royal Family helps UK tourism



Nine members of the Royal Family are to take part in a British
Tourism Day to help boost the hard-hit industry.

Led by the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, the senior Royals are
visiting regions throughout Britain to publicise some of the Best-of-
British attractions and beauty spots.

It is the first time so many members of the Royal Family have joined
together for a so-called "theme day" to back a single aspect of
British life.

Between them they will visit a theme park, museums, miniature
railway, theatre, pub, farm, hotel, caravan park, tea rooms, forestry
centre, youth hostel and places of natural beauty.

A Buckingham Palace spokeswoman said: "This underlines the importance
of tourism to the national economy. The wide variety of venues being
visited shows how much the UK has to offer tourists both from home
and abroad."

Many tourist itineraries include a royal event or attraction and the
Royal Family recognise the part they can play, not only in
celebrating the tourist industry's successes but also helping to
boost its fortunes.

The industry has been hit by the effects of the September 11
terrorist attacks in America, the foot-and-mouth outbreak in the UK
and the Iraq war, costing an estimated ?3 billion in lost revenues.

In addition, the recent Sars epidemic has reduced the number of
visitors from south east Asia.

Tourism is one of the largest industries in the UK, worth about ?76
billion in 2002 and contributing 4.5% of the national Gross Domestic
Product (GDP).

Last year, there were approximately 23.9 million overseas visitors to
the UK, spending ?11.9 billion. It is estimated there are 2.1 million
jobs in the UK related to tourism, 7% of total employment.