The 2015 Destination Britain APMEA three day show has opened for business in Bali at The Grand Hyatt Nusa Dua.
With visitor numbers and tourist spend from Indonesia to Britain growing at a rapid rate, the event now in its twelfth consecutive year is seen as crucial time for VisitBritain to broaden its engagement in the APME regions.
The main show floor
Indeed in the last decade, visitation numbers from the overall Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa region to Britain has grown 40% with average spend up 140%. And last year in 2014 Britain witnessed its best year ever for inbound tourism, with 34.8 million inbound visits and a whopping tourism spend of £21.7 billion.
This years key themes are set to build on that result and focused on the British Countryside, Culture and Luxury. All key areas for continued growth in the region and beyond.
VisitBritain Chairman Christpher Rodrigues formally opens the event
“The work we do at Destination Britain APMEA is crucial to the promotion of the country’s tourism product in these valuable markets, helping to put Britain front of mind when it comes to destination choice. The event allows us to promote our great British product across a wide network of countries and provide a route to export growth for UK businesses at a key time for the economy.
Christopher Rodrigues, Chairman of VisitBritain
RT @wkendLondon: And we’re off as Christopher Rodrigues of @VisitBritainBiz makes opening address to UK trade attending #DBAPMEA2015
— VisitBritain Biz (@VisitBritainBiz) May 11, 2015
Over the course of the three-day show, 53 UK representatives from tourism businesses across Britain – including attractions, hotels, tour operators, regional tourist boards and transport providers – will connect with 84 of the top travel agents from 18 countries across Asia, Pacific, Middle East via a series of one-on-one workshop meetings and networking events. Australia is well represented as usual this year with a number of buyers attending this year from a variety of travel wholesalers.
The show officially began on Monday night with a ‘Culture is GREAT’ themed welcome dinner opened by Visit Britain Chairman Christopher Rodrigues and featured a live performance from ‘Rachelle Ann Go’ of the hit London musical Miss Saigon who impressed the crowd with three numbers from both the Miss Saigon show and her latest role in fellow hit musical Les Miserables.
The FCO’s Deputy Head of Mission to Indonesia, Juliet Maric Capeling OBE, was also in attendance in Bali to mark the special occasion.
Ready to re-acquaint myself with my homeland again. #DBAPMEA2015 @VisitBritain @KristenAngus_VB @karryontravel pic.twitter.com/ei7pkoOc5D
— Matt Leedham (@worldofleedham) May 12, 2015
Tuesday night features a ‘Music is GREAT’ inspired outdoor function with a Beatles cover band and plenty of surprises.
The Destination Britain 2015 show concludes on Wednesday afternoon.