UK Travel to U.S. Sees Year-End Boost, Expected to Grow in 2004

February 19, 2004

UK Travel to U.S. Sees Year-End Boost, Expected to Grow in 2004
February 19, 2004 – The latest UK Travel Barometer survey reported growth in bookings to the United States for fourth quarter 2003 and year-end 2003, and predicts strong growth in the first half of 2004.

According to the U.S. Office of Travel and Tourism Industries, bookings for U.S. destinations included in the survey had an increase on average compared to year-end 2002. Travel demand for U.S. destinations included in the survey were all predicted to increase or be about the same compared to first quarter 2003.

Just over eight out of 10 respondents (82 percent) indicated they were confident in recommending the United States as a holiday destination in 2004. Approximately six out of 10 respondents (63 percent) indicated that UK consumers were confident or very confident in selecting the United States as a holiday destination in 2004, compared to 2003.

Other survey results include:

Nearly all respondents (94 percent) indicated that UK consumers consider the United States as a "good value for the money" in 2004, compared to 2003.

There is higher demand for travel to major cities and amusement parks for first and second quarter 2004, compared to the same travel periods last year.

The top two barriers for travel to the United States in the first half of 2004 were perceived safety of traveling and entrance procedures. Other top barriers listed were the level of promotion by U.S. destinations and businesses and competitive promotions from other long-haul destinations.

The UK Travel Barometer is a qualitative survey designed to collect input from active travel trade working in the UK to sell and promote travel to the United States. These results were derived from surveying UK travel trade that promote and/or sell travel to the United States Jan. 6-29.