While the British vote to leave the European Union may have quite a number of negative effects on the UK economy, travel agencies report a rapidly rising number of inbound flight bookings – thanks to a weaker pound.
Flight bookings in Britain surged in the month following the country’s vote to leave the European Union, travel information firm ForwardKeys reported Monday.
International visitors were seen seeking advantage of a cheaper UK-based holiday, following a slump in the British pound.
Inbound flight reservations rose by 4.3 percent in the 28 days after July 21, compared with the same period last year and revising the trend in the month before the referendum when bookings were 2.8 percent lower.
Good for hotel operators
ForwardKeys had no doubt the pickup in reservations was attributable to exchange rate developments.
“Brexit had an immediate, positive impact on inbound tourism which is converting into better-than-anticipated arrivals,” ForwardKeys CEO Olivier Jager said in a statement.
The rise in flight bookings was believed to provide a boost to tourist attractions, hoteliers, restaurants and shops across Britain.
Flight reservations from outside Europe were up 8.6 percent in the 28 days after the Brexit vote, driven mainly by visitors from Hong Kong, the US and Canada.
hg/jd/ (AFP, Reuters)
