Walpole, the luxury trade body has launched a campaign calling for coordinated efforts and more spending to attract wealthy tourists to the UK . Chief executive Julia Carrick said that although trading has recovered from the lows just after the July 7 bombings last year, some luxury brands are still finding trading difficult. Tourism figures are up 122% since 1979, but total spend by tourists has risen by just 40 per cent. Walpole said the government needs to increase its budget for tourism bodies such as VisitBritain. The figure has stagnated over the past decade at about £32 million a year. It’s campaign aims to enlist the government, the Confederation o British Industry, the New West End Company and tourism groups in a coordinated research and marketing programme. Members of Walpole include Harrods, Burberry, Burberry, Jimmy Choo and Alfred Dunhill.
Luring back high-spending US visitors, whose numbers have declined since 2000 is a priority. Walpole is also calling for a relaxation of visa restrictions for visitors from China as part of efforts to lure tourists from emerging markets such as Russia and the Far East . Walpole use their combined marketing and commercial skills to promote British excellence as exemplified by the highest standards of quality, style, craftsmanship, creativity, service and innovation. Their aim is provide a collective voice on behalf of British goods and services in promoting the values represented by Walpole as well as to develop a strategy in which Walpole can collectively represent its members to Government on crucial issues which affect members.