London 2012
The 2012 Games is an obvious opportunity to showcase the South East - its heritage, its cultural diversity, its excellence. But it is also an opportunity to improve our tourism offer, to showcase our talents and our regional assets. We need to drive up the quality of the tourism offer in order to attract Olympics tourists.
TSE has responded to the government's consultation on the proposed tourism strategy for the London Olympics. Our comments contend with the apparent plans of the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) indicating that funding, training, support and structure for the industry is key to the success of the Olympic's tourism legacy.
There are two types of Olympic Tourism;
Olympics-related tourism - athletes, officials, sponsors, spectators & media in the run up to and during the actual Games
Olympics-motivated tourism -additional tourist visits to and business events in the South East as a result of heightened interest in the destination, prior and post event. - Indirect Impact- Tourists return home and tell stories about experiences. Motivate others to visit.
The Scale of Opportunity
Research undertaken by VB from prior games suggests between 50 - 70% of the net economic benefit of staging the Games, measured over a 7-10 year period, will accrue through tourism
Early estimates suggest the Games might generate around £2 billion for Britain's visitor economy.
Almost two-thirds of this growth will occur in the four years after the Games.
An opportunity on this scale comes along only once in a generation, if at all. We must seize every opportunity that comes our way.
Olympic Games: 27 July - 12 August
200+ Nations
17,800 competitors and officials
3 weeks in Summer 2012
70,000 volunteers needed
Paralympic Games: 29 August - 9 September- 150+ Nations
4,000 competitors and officials
12 days in Summer 2012