(VOVworld)- The British government has launched a tourism strategy for 2017 considering the hospitality industry to be a spearhead in the national economy because of the weak pound. The strategy corresponds with to the UN’s designation of 2017 as International Year of Sustainable Tourism Development.
There will be campaigns to promote cultural and sports activities in the UK in 2017. The British government has emphasized specific highlights, themes, and events for each region of the UK.
UK travel companies have promoted literary commemorations to attract tourists. This year, events featuring and retelling literary works and the lives of famous characters like Harry Potter and Sherlock Homes will be held. An exhibition marking the 20th anniversary of the Harry Potter novel will be held at which JK Rowling will for the first time read excerpts from her first writings.
Marking the 125th anniversary of the publication of Arthur Conan Doyle’s “The Adventures of Sherlock Homes”, tourists will have chance to visit the “Sherlock Homes” house in London and Bristol, where the BBC produced the television series.
Sports activities including the 2017 World Championship Athletics, the World Female Baseball Championship, and the 25th anniversary of the Premier League are also being promoted.
Forecasts from VisitBritain, the national tourism agency, indicate that 2017 is set to be another record year for inbound tourism. Spending by overseas visitors is predicted to reach £24.1 billion, an eight per cent increase on spending this year which is also expected to top out at £22.3 billion. The number of overseas visitors to the UK is expected to rise next year to 38.1 million, up four per cent on 2016.
The United Nations World Tourism Organization has named 2017 as the “International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development. UNWTO Secretary-General Taleb Rifai said 2017 presented a unique opportunity to promote the contributions made by tourism to the 3 main pillars of sustainable development including economics, society, and the environment and to determine the exact role tourism play in the sustainable development agenda up to and beyond 2030.