POSITIVE RESULTS FOR SOUTH EAST TOURISM
December 7, 2005: Positive business performance has been reported by South East tourism organisations for the first nine months of 2005 (January - September) compared with the same period last year, according to the latest Tourism South East (TSE) Business Confidence Survey.
The TSE Survey reported that 46% of tourism businesses stated that performance was better overall this year compared with the same period in 2004. 27% reported the same level of performance and a further 27% thought business performance to be worse.
Most tourism businesses reported that this positive rise was due to the improved weather conditions (above average temperatures and below average rainfall) over the July - September period.
However, despite this good news there are strong concerns about the current economic climate and the rising costs of running a business whilst keeping prices down. Also levels of concern for security have risen slightly since the July London Bomb attacks.
Never the less, optimism has continued with businesses feeling upbeat about the remainder of the year, 47% expect 2005 to be better overall than 2004, whilst 32% expect it to be about the same.
Nicola Rogers TSE Market Intelligence Manager said "2005 has been a tricky year for the tourism industry generally, so it is most encouraging to be able to report a positive level of business performance and confidence."
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For further information or a copy of the full report please contact Jodie Hodge TSE Corporate Communications Officer on 023 8062 5502 or jhodge@tourismse.com
Notes to Editors
Tourism South East is the strategic tourism body for Kent, Sussex, Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Surrey, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire.
The Business Confidence Survey is a quarterly questionnaire sent out to tourism organisations in the South East of England. 38% of responding businesses were serviced accommodation providers, 28% were non-serviced accommodation providers and a further 27% were visitor attractions. The remainder were retail, leisure, food and drink, travel and transport and other tourism service providers.