UNITED KINGDOM/FILE: European tour operators report a 95 percent drop in bookings for London during the 2012 Games, but British government says its looking at the long term gains in the global tourism market

Record ID: 332442

  • Title: UNITED KINGDOM/FILE: European tour operators report a 95 percent drop in bookings for London during the 2012 Games, but British government says its looking at the long term gains in the global tourism market
  • Date: 9th November 2011
  • Summary: LONDON, ENGLAND, UK (NOVEMBER 7, 2011) (REUTERS) INSIDE WORLD TRAVEL MARKET TRADE SHOW "LONDON" TRADE SHOW STAND "LONDON" SIGN "LONDON" SALES ASSISTANT TALKING TO POTENTIAL CLIENT LONDON BUS INSIDE TRADE SHOW LONDON BUS TRADE SHOW REPRESENTATIVE TALKING TO POTENTIAL CLIENTS MORE OF LONDON BUS TRADE SHOW REPRESENTATIVE TALKING TO POTENTIAL CLIENTS "ETOA" (EUROPEAN TOUR OPERATORS ASSOCIATION) SIGN AT TRADE SHOW TOM JENKINS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR "ETOA" (EUROPEAN TOUR OPERATORS ASSOCIATION) TALKING TO PEOPLE AT TRADE SHOW MORE OF JENKINS TALKING TO PEOPLE AT TRADE SHOW (SOUNDBITE) (English) TOM JENKINS CHIEF EXECUTIVE, "ETOA" (EUROPEAN TOUR OPERATORS ASSOCIATION) SAYING "We've just done a survey of our members who bring about 2 million people into London every year, and, according to them, they are looking at a 60 percent decline in tourist numbers during July and August of next year and a 95 percent decline during the Olympic Games themselves." LONDON 2012 OLYMPIC GAMES STAND AT TRADE SHOW LONDON 2012 SIGN LONDON 2012 MERCHANDISE ON DISPLAY LONDON 2012 T-SHIRT ON DISPLAY LONDON 2012 FLAG ON DISPLAY (SOUNDBITE) (English) TOM JENKINS CHIEF EXECUTIVE, "ETOA" (EUROPEAN TOUR OPERATORS ASSOCIATION) SAYING "These people they don't behave like normal tourists, they are coming and in some cases they are paying a high premium in order to watch sport. They are coming because they are interested in fencing, they are interested in volleyball, they are interested in Greek wrestling. These people are not coming to London in order to go to the theatre, or to do shopping or to go shopping or to go sight-seeing or see attractions and it is these businesses that we are very concerned about." LONDON, ENGLAND, UK (RECENT) (REUTERS) THEATRE SHOWING MAMMA MIA MUSICAL MAMMA MIA SIGN TOUR GROUP ENTERING THEATRE LINE OF PEOPLE GOING INTO THEATRE TAXIS OUTSIDE CHICAGO MUSICAL LONDON THEATRELAND BILLBOARDS PEOPLE WALKING IN FRONT OF "DRIVING MISS DAISY" THEATRE LONDON, ENGLAND, UK (NOVEMBER 7, 2011) (REUTERS) WORLD TRAVEL MARKET OPENING SESSION / BRITISH MINISTER FOR CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT, JEREMY HUNT BEING INTRODUCED HUNT WALKING ONTO STAGE VARIOUS OF AUDIENCE LISTENING (SOUNDBITE) (English) BRITISH MINISTER FOR CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT, JEREMY HUNT, SAYING "We have high hopes for next year, but we are also mindful of what Shakespeare said of 'Expectations being the root of all heartache.' Previous Olympics we know haven't always been plain-sailing when it comes to tourism benefits. So if we want to buck the trend and defy the tourism dip that other Olympic hosts have experienced in the past, then we need a clear plan." AUDIENCE LISTENING HUNT SPEAKING ON STAGE (SOUNDBITE) (English) BRITISH MINISTER FOR CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT, JEREMY HUNT, SAYING "We have just had or we are in the middle of a global economic crisis. This is a very difficult time for the European economy in particular and I don't think it is particularly surprising to see those numbers at this stage. But remember that what we are talking about it is a campaign that extends well beyond Europe. Overall our overseas visitors are up at the moment by more than the global trends in the UK. Our domestic tourism is going through a huge boost as well and what we are going to do is to make sure that we harness the opportunity of next year to have a long term, sustained tourism legacy." LONDON & PARTNERS SPOKESWOMAN MARTINE AINSWORTH-WELLS, AT "LONDON" STALL AT WORLD TRAVEL MARKET TRADE SHOW LONDON TOURISM BOOKLETS (SOUNDBITE) (English) LONDON & PARTNERS SPOKESWOMAN MARTINE AINSWORTH-WELLS, SAYING "Travel habits have changed dramatically over the past five or six years. Five or six years ago people would be planning three, six months in advance. Now, travel patterns, certainly to London, we have found are a bit different and people will leave maybe just a week's notice, or a couple of week's notice to come to London, so we think we have still got plenty of time to be able to persuade people. And there is exciting stuff happening from now right through until July next year."
  • Embargoed: 24th November 2011 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: United Kingdom
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Topics: Sports,Travel / Tourism
  • Reuters ID: LVA3G6J9DYFNEB3KQ0IKEBS9CZBK
  • Story Text: Just a short distance from the Olympic Stadium, in the Excel Centre, an Olympic sports venue itself, London tour operators are struggling to sell their London 2012 message at a world tourism trade show.
    Tour operators organising trips to Britain are seeing up to a 95 percent downturn in bookings during the London 2012 Olympics, a survey by an industry group said, with sports fans failing to compensate for those wanting to avoid a packed city.
    The warning has sparked a debate about the immediate impact on tourism of the July 27-August 12 2012 Games and its longer-term effects.
    The European Tour Operators Association (ETOA) surveyed 28 of its members, responsible for two million tourists per year, and estimates that approximately 3.5 billion pounds ($5.6 billion) could be lost to the UK economy during this time for both satellite venues and the capital city.
    "We've just done a survey of our members who bring about 2 million people into London every year, and, according to them, they are looking at a 60 percent decline in tourist numbers during July and August of next year and a 95 percent decline during the Olympic Games themselves," said Tom Jenkins, Executive Director of ETOA.
    There are roughly 125,000 hotel rooms in London. The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (LOCOG) has earmarked 45,000 of those, but they can return any untaken rooms at no cost.
    According to ETOA figures, Olympic visitors took 15,000 rooms at at the Athens Games in 2004. Their highest estimate for Olympic room take-up in London next year is 35,000.
    They claim that "normal" tourists will not be taking up the slack, as they are put off by the Games.
    Jenkins said that other sectors of London's tourism market will suffer dramatically by having an influx of Olympic tourists at the cost of other visitors.
    "These people they don't behave like normal tourists, they are coming and in some cases they are paying a high premium in order to watch sport. They are coming because they are interested in fencing, they are interested in volleyball, they are interested in Greek wrestling. These people are not coming to London in order to go to the theatre, or to do shopping or to go shopping or to go sight-seeing or see attractions and it is these businesses that we are very concerned about," he said.
    British Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt, who was speaking at the Excel tourism trade show told Reuters that he thinks it is wrong to look at one set of numbers at this point.
    "We are in the middle of a global economic crisis. This is a very difficult time for the European economy in particular and I don't think it is particularly surprising to see those numbers at this stage. But remember that what we are talking about it is a campaign that extends well beyond Europe....What we are going to do is to make sure that we harness the opportunity of next year to have a long term, sustained tourism legacy," Hunt said.
    Every Olympic Games displaces tourists - that is not new, argues London & Partners spokeswoman Martine Ainsworth-Wells.
    The city's official promotional organisation has been working with the travel trade to quell their fears about visiting London and launched in September "Limited Edition London" to showcase events between now and the Games including celebrations of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee next June.
    Ainsworth-Wells told Reuters that travel patterns have changed dramatically in the last few years. "Five or six years ago, people would plan three to six months in advance; now travel plans can be made with just a week or two weeks' notice. We've still got plenty of time to persuade people."
    Rather than focusing on visitor numbers during the Olympics itself, the UK Government is hoping the event will act as a catalyst for future growth.
    ETOA's Jenkins said he is not advocating countries not hosting Olympics, but more of a realistic viewpoint on the immediate tourism gains.
    "My plea really is not one of anti-Olympics, it is merely saying 'Fine, have a party, have a great party, but don't pretend it is great for tourism," he said.
    If, as the ETOA worries, overseas visitors who come to watch the Olympic sport do just that, rather than sightseeing, shopping or going to the theatre, there's always the domestic market to keep numbers up.
    Then there's also the London 2012 Festival, a 12-week programme of concerts, exhibitions, films and live events which mark the culmination of the four-year Cultural Olympiad.

    (ends)
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