Responding to the latest ONS Travel Trends 2022 data, Adam Tyndall, Programme Director for Transport at BusinessLDN, said:
“Today’s figures show an undiminished appetite for international travel after two years of stringent restrictions in the UK and around the world. Suggestions that the pandemic would mean a significant long-term reduction in demand seem increasingly out of touch with reality.
“However, for London to seize the benefits of this recovery, the Government must act swiftly to ensure we remain attractive to both leisure and business visitors amid fierce international competition. The quickest win would come from restoring VAT-free shopping, which would attract more overseas tourists and deliver an extra £350million in tax revenues for the Exchequer every year.
“Longer term, a price support mechanism for sustainable aviation fuels could catalyse a whole new green industry here in the UK, creating sustainable jobs and helping to decarbonise flying. We also need to ensure that there is sufficient infrastructure capacity in the South East to cope with future growth. We must show the world that Britain is open for business.”