M2 - Factors affecting domestic and inbound tourism to the UK
Exchange rates
Exchange rates are the rates of how much money we get when we convert our currency to
another country`s. Currency exchange rates change in every second. The current exchange
rate (below on the picture) tells us that £1 is worth 1.153 Euros and 1 Euro is worth £0.867.
This affects inbound tourism, because people who want to convert their money are getting
less. An example would be a Spanish couple who wants to transfer 100 Euros would only get
£86.7.
This puts people off travelling to the UK because the pound is strong. If inbound tourism will
drop, it will affect the UK economy as tourism worth £126.9 billion
(https://www.visitbritain.org/visitor-economy-facts). In the recent year, the pound has
weakened because of Brexit, but it is still strong. Exchange rates are affecting domestic
tourism because when the pound is strong, this might encourage locals to go abroad as they
get more money if the currency rate is very good. For example, a family from Bristol wants to
convert £1,000 and they would get 1153 Euros.
Conclusion
Overall, if the pound is strong, the inbound tourism drops and domestic tourism boosts. When
the pound is weak, there are more inbound visitors and less domestic tourists. Locals would
rather go abroad.
Competition from other destinations
It means how other destinations attract tourists to come to there instead of coming to a
different destination. Countries compete by what is appealing to visitors to that destination
and what attracts them. For example, the climate of the UK does not attract tourists, but the
visitor attractions, heritage and events attract people globally.
According to World Atlas and World of Wanderlust, in 2016, the United Kingdom was the 8 th
most visited countries in the world after Germany, Turkey, Italy, China, Spain, US and
France.
Orlando, as a competing destination
Orlando is a big competition for the UK as it has very good climate and has worldwide known
attractions, such as the Walt Disney World and Universal Studios Orlando. IT has theme parks,
aqua parks, zoos and natural attractions. It is also a competing destination, because many
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