Tours Of London Replacing Overseas Holidays As Recessions Bites
by web directory on Apr.25, 2009, under Travel
The number of UK tourists visiting London shows signs of growing as many budget slashing holiday makers are deciding to see what’s on their doorstep rather than venturing abroad this year.
Famous as being as one of the most exciting and historical cities in the world, London offers visitors a unique blend of centuries of fascinating history as seen in the Royal Palaces, Houses of Parliament, the Tower of London and government buildings such as Downing Street, the residence of the Prime Minister and the comtemporary such as the National Gallery on the South Bank. The historical points of interest coupled with world renowned museums and historic galleries and such institutions as the world famous London taxi and red buses and more recently London Eye makes London tours ideal for visitors to the UK but increasingly, as reported, UK residents themselves. It has never been so hectic being a London tour guide!
Whilst the global recession has largely affected both domestic and overseas holiday destinations London seems to have benefitted in terms of an increase in UK citizens visiting its attractions.
Graham Powell of London tours company, Country Travel Tours, says: “We’ve definitely noticed an increase in demand for our London tour guide service and more than ever our customers are UK residents, many even local to London.”
As well as an increase in Tours of London, London’s museums and galleries have reported increases in visitor numbers. This trend has also spread to the rest of the UK and is thought to be a result of a decrease in people’s disposable income and a view that a cheap or even free visit to the local museum is a good alternative to an expensive night out on the town.
One interesting caveat on the apparent notion of an increased level of visitors to London is that most London hotels are reporting declining occupancy levels which would seem to contradict any apparent influx in domestic visitors to London. However many believe that this is simply indicative of the nature of the visits to London. Graham Powell explains: “What we have been seeing is more day trippers coming to London rather than say week long holiday makers using our London tour service. Also a lot of people tell us they are staying with relatives either in or close to London as opposed to booking paid accommodation in the city.”
London tour guides and museums aside, for many suffering businesses reliant on tourism in London the 2012 Olympics cant come soon enough.
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