Tourism and aviation

The UK’s tourism and aviation industries are economic success stories. This report is an exploration of the interconnectivity of these industries, and an analysis of how flights to, from, and within the UK underpin the success of one of the UK’s largest and most vibrant industries.

As an island nation, it is of little surprise that the majority of the UK’s tourists enter or leave the country by air, and a significant number of domestic flights are also taken for holiday purposes. ONS figures highlight that in 2014, 73% of inbound leisure tourists to the UK arrived by air; for UK holidaymakers going abroad, more than 80 per cent departed on a plane. 

In 2013, the Centre for Economic and Business Research (Cebr), in a study commissioned by ABTA, found that the vast majority of the UK’s air routes (96 per cent) saw 50% of passengers travelling for leisure tourism purposes. On half of these routes, over nine in ten passengers were leisure tourists. This demonstrates the importance of leisure tourism in sustaining the world-class air connectivity that the UK benefits from.

In this report, ABTA – The Travel Association, the Airport Operators Association, Tourism Alliance, and UKinbound have brought together a vast body of data, research, and living examples to tell a compelling story of the important link between leisure tourism and the thriving aviation sector.
There is a powerful case to be made as to the importance of aviation and leisure tourism as a wealth and job creator. I believe that this report is essential reading for my Westminster colleagues, and I am certain that it will help to shape their views on the policy challenges and opportunities facing the UK’s tourism industry – and hopefully, the Government’s future policy making process.