- 2022 will be a blockbuster year for the nation, with Her Majesty The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games and Unboxed: Creativity in the UK
- The Prime Minister’s outcry comes as VisitBritain launches a £10m campaign to encourage international tourists to visit
Prime Minister Boris Johnson is today calling on international tourists to visit the UK and enjoy the sights and sounds of one of Europe’s most open countries.
As testing and quarantine restrictions end for fully vaccinated visitors, the UK is poised to welcome visitors from around the world to a blockbuster year of events showcasing the breadth of culture, creativity and innovation on offer, including the Platinum Jubilee To Her Majesty The Queen, the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games and Unboxed: Creativity in the UK.
It precedes VisitBritain’s new £10m international marketing campaign targeting the UK’s most valuable visitor markets in Europe and the US, which will launch in February.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said:
Thanks to the phenomenal success of our Booster campaign and the extraordinary efforts of the public, the UK is officially one of the most open countries in Europe and ready to welcome visitors from all over the world.
Britain is home to thousands of world-class attractions, unbeatable hospitality and incredible history and culture. 2022 also promises a host of events not to be missed, from Her Majesty’s Jubilee to the Commonwealth Games.
Now is a fantastic time to book a trip and enjoy the best that Britain has to offer.
Culture Minister Nadine Dorries said:
There is a huge pent-up demand for international tourists to visit the UK and my message is clear: our brilliant tourism, hospitality and leisure businesses are ready and waiting to welcome people back.
2022 will be a blockbuster year with an unmissable opportunity to see world-class sport at the Commonwealth Games, culture and creativity through the unboxed events and royal pageantry as we celebrate the Queen’s 70th reign.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said:
We made the right decisions at the right time, and our rollout of vaccines and booster shots is paying off — allowing us to safely lift almost all COVID-19 travel restrictions for vaccinated travelers.
We already have one of the most open, least constrained economies in Europe and because of these changes we now have a travel sector to match.
This latest step in our stable and safe full return to international travel is a major boost for UK tourism and frees Britain ahead of the crucial mid-semester and spring holiday periods.
VisitBritain’s multi-million dollar campaign will shine a spotlight on cities across the UK, including London, Edinburgh and Cardiff, which have been hit hard by a lack of international visitors.
It will encourage visitors to see a different side of Britain and encourage new and exciting experiences such as kayaking on London’s legendary River Thames, Edinburgh’s famous Fringe Festival and tasting some of the world’s best gin at Cardiff Distillery.
VisitBritain CEO Sally Balcombe said:
We know there is a pent-up demand for travel and our priority is to rebuild UK demand and visitor spending as quickly as possible amid fierce competition for international visitors who contribute billions to our economy.
In addition to welcoming and affirming messages, we put our vibrant and diverse cities in the spotlight. By telling the stories of our illustrious heritage with a modern twist, our vibrant contemporary culture and our innovative food and drink scene, we show that Britain is full of fresh and exciting experiences for you to experience today.
Destined to become global tourism attractions, this year’s landmark events also provide exciting and timely opportunities to highlight once-in-a-lifetime experiences that visitors can only have here and to promote our hospitality and creativity to the world.
VisitBritain’s campaign will build on the government’s ambitious tourism recovery plan, released in June 2021, which aims to bring domestic and international tourism back to pre-pandemic levels a year faster than independent forecasts predicted.
The Government has supported tourism, hospitality and leisure organizations with more than £37billion in funding and support during the pandemic.
These include ongoing sales tax cuts, furloughs and 100 percent relaxation of business tax rates for leisure, retail and hospitality businesses, which have saved thousands of jobs and prevented many business closures. The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme supported 87 per cent of hospitality and entertainment businesses at its peak and a UK VAT reduction from 20 per cent to 5 per cent applied to the tourism sector by September 2021. It will remain at 12.5 percent until the end of March 2022 to provide ongoing support to businesses.
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Notes for editors:
The VisitBritain campaign goes live in major European markets Germany, France, Italy, Spain and the Netherlands the week of February 14th and launches in the US on February 10th.
The plans for Her Majesty The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee are as follows:
Thursday June 2nd
- Queen’s Birthday Parade (Trooping the Colour): Over 1,400 parading soldiers, 200 horses and 400 musicians come together in the traditional parade to celebrate the Queen’s official birthday, which usually takes place on the second Saturday in June.
- Platinum Jubilee Beacons: The UK’s long tradition of celebrating royal anniversaries, weddings and coronations by lighting beacons continues on the occasion of the Platinum Jubilee. Beacons will be lit throughout the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man and British Overseas Territories. For the first time, bonfires will also be lit in all Commonwealth capitals to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
Friday June 3rd
- Thanksgiving Service: A Thanksgiving service for the Queen’s reign is held at St. Paul’s Cathedral.
Saturday June 4th
- The Epsom Downs Derby: Her Majesty The Queen will be attending the Epsom Downs Derby accompanied by members of the Royal Family.
- Platinum Party at the Palace: The BBC will stage and broadcast a special live concert from Buckingham Palace, which will bring together some of the world’s biggest entertainment stars to celebrate the most significant and joyous moments from the Queen’s seven-decade reign.
Sunday June 5th
- The Big Jubilee Lunch: Each year since the idea began in 2009, The Big Lunch has encouraged communities to celebrate their connections and get to know each other a little better by coming together in a spirit of fun and friendship. In 2022, The Big Lunch will bring the anniversary celebrations to the heart of every community.
- The Platinum Jubilee Pageant: A pageant with over 5,000 participants from across the UK and Commonwealth takes place against the backdrop of Buckingham Palace and the surrounding streets. Combining street art, theatre, music, circus, carnival and costume, it will celebrate service to Her Majesty’s Reign and honor the collective service of people and communities across the country.
Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games
The 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham will take place from 28 July to 8 August 2022 and will be the largest sporting and cultural event the city has ever hosted, with thousands of world-class athletes and over a million spectators. Home to more than 187 nationalities, Birmingham 2022 will be a home game for every nation.
With a public funding of £778m, Birmingham 2022 will offer 11 days of fantastic sport. As well as the sports programme, the Games will be accompanied by a six-month cultural festival and the Queen’s Baton Relay will tour the Commonwealth and the UK before arriving in Birmingham for the opening ceremony. A £24 million business and tourism scheme will convert the excitement and interest generated by the Games into more trade, tourism and investment opportunities for the West Midlands and for the region and the UK to be known throughout the world do.
UNBOXED: Creativity in Britain
Unboxed: Creativity in the UK – a once-in-a-lifetime celebration of our world-leading creativity, running from March to October. Relying on a government investment of £120m, Unboxed will lift the lid on 10 very different creative projects designed by some of the brightest minds in science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics. Millions of people across the UK are invited to see, experience and take part in an extraordinary array of events, installations and activities across England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales – as well as online, which will bring people together and showcase Britain’s creativity worldwide.