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The number of tourists coming to the UK from the Gulf region has jumped, with some 494,000 people from the region making trips in 2009, up nine per cent on the year before, according to a new report from VisitBritain.
Tourists say they are particularly attracted to the UK by the opportunity to shop for fashion and luxury goods not available at home - and the chance to watch a Premier League football club in action.
Gulf tourism makes an important contribution to the British economy. The average amount that visitors from the region spent in 2009 while in this country was £1,733 per person - more than three times as much as the average tourist who spent just £554.
The region was the source of 1.7 per cent of visitors in 2009 but they splashed out £856 million, 5.2 per cent of what all foreign tourists spent here.
Key reasons for the surge in Gulf region visits to Great Britain include its temperate climate which is seen as particularly desirable for those wishing to escape searing summer temperatures. Ironically, the rainy, windy days are often ridiculed by the Brit expat community living in the region and are often highlighted as one of the reasons why families choose to live and work abroad in the first place.
The new report comes as the popularity of the UK with Gulf region investors has climbed. Qatar Holdings, the state-owned investment fund, owns the prestigious Harrods department store. Shaikh Mansour bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, a member of the ruling family of Abu Dhabi, is currently spending money heavily to transform Manchester City FC into a team that can finally compete with its neighbour Manchester United for the Premiership crown. The Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company recently bought the ExCeL exhibition centre in London.
Gulf region visitors currently have limited knowledge of Britain outside London but they find the idea of visiting other parts of the country 'very appealing'.
Although Gulf nationals believe London is relatively expensive compared to other European destinations the cost tends to be outweighed by the cachet of being able to say they visited London and experienced Britain's culture and heritage. Another point in Britain's favour is that it is easy for tourists to communicate once they get here, since most are familiar with the English language.
When would-be Gulf region tourists were asked where they would like to visit in the next three years, only Malaysia had a slight edge over Britain as a destination because of its rich scenic beauty. Britain's closest rivals are, in order of precedence, France, Thailand, Singapore and the US.
