Minister Peacock promotes UK tourism at UN Ministers meeting.
:Welcome to London - a global capital of culture and connection -
and to WTM 2025. It's wonderful to see so many tourism ministers,
industry leaders, innovators, and partners gathering here to
shape the future of world travel and tourism.
A sincere thank you to the WTM organisers and UN Tourism for once
again delivering such an impressive Ministerial Summit that
brings together the best of our global industry.
The UK continues to lead in tourism innovation - from sustainable
travel to digital experiences. We're committed to working with
partners worldwide to remove barriers, promote trade, and unlock
growth across our shared industry.
The UK is a reliable and attractive place for tourism investment.
We've seen a strong recovery in recent years, and between 2019
and 2023, the UK ranked first in Europe and second globally for
foreign direct investment in tourism.
In the past few years, we have seen significant investment in the
tourism sector regionally, with attractions such as the
Government supported £210m Aviva Studios in Manchester,
Universal's multi-billion pound investment in Bedford and the
recent opening of The Reserve, Chester Zoo's new safari style
lodges.
One of our key strengths is the diversity of our regions. From
major cities to rural and coastal areas, there's a broad range of
opportunities, supporting growth right across the country.
The UK's cultural, creative, and heritage assets remain central
to our appeal. They give visitors and investors something
distinctive, and they're a major part of our international
reputation.
The government is helping to build on this through initiatives
like the Local Visitor Economy Partnerships and Destination
Development Partnerships, which encourage collaboration and
support local growth.
And looking ahead, the UK's position as a digital leader,
together with our commitment to net zero, makes it a market
that's focused on innovation and sustainability.
Overall, the UK offers a stable, well-connected environment for
investors, with clear long-term potential in the visitor economy.
The UK Government remains dedicated to global sustainable growth
and ensuring our tourism sector stays competitive, responsible,
and future-focused.
Finally, I'm confident that this Summit and the WTM more broadly
will spark new partnerships, ideas, and opportunities - helping
us all build a stronger, more connected, and more sustainable
global tourism industry."
