Texas Tourism will be using WTM London to build on a recent surge in interest that has seen UK visitors flocking to the US state.
UK visitor figures to Texas totalled 210,000 in 2015; up 17.3% on the previous year and tourism officials expect final numbers for 2016 to be even higher.
The UK is Texas’s largest overseas market and in 2015 British visitors spent nearly $189 million in direct spending while in the state and stayed on average 10 nights. Texas offers sensational and exciting travel experiences including American cowboy heritage, amusement parks, food, history, music, sports and tax free shopping. Visitors to the state can explore the open prairies, stunning landscapes and cities of Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio.
The introduction on October 1st of a new, direct route from Manchester to Houston with Singapore Airlines is already attracting interest from travellers from the north.
The Singapore Airlines flight adds to the existing nine daily direct flights from British Airways, United Airlines and American Airlines that currently service Texas from London, to Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston and Austin.
Julie Greenhill, Texas Tourism’s Senior Account Manager, UK and Ireland said, “We are delighted in this impressive increase in visitor figures from the UK and have forecast this to increase by 46.7% by 2020. “UK visitors continue to be attracted to Texas’s western culture but are increasingly visiting for the fantastic food scene, vibrant music, great shopping and exciting outdoors adventures.”
www.TravelTexas.com
Stand: NA250B