Olympics 'could bring £3bn into UK'
September 2007
Britain's tourist industry could receive a £3 billion boost in revenue as a result of the 2012 Olympic Games, a new piece of research has suggested.
A study by hotel company Travelodge claims that Olympic hosts typically outperform global tourism growth by 50 per cent in the four years before and four years after the Games.
If UK tourism performs at this level, it can expect an extra £3 billion in spending between 2007 and 2016 from around 6.6 million more visitors.
However the Travelodge report also warns that, during the year of the event itself, there is a decline in growth of around 4.3 per cent.
Grant Hearn, CEO of the hotel company, said: "Potentially, the Games can act as a catalyst for UK tourism to outperform the world average by 50 per cent for eight out of the next nine years.
"These revenues could significantly reduce Britain's £18 billion tourism trade deficit transforming UK tourism into a powerhouse industry of the future."
Travel Insurance - Holiday Extras insured over 750,000 people last year and were voted BEST Insurance provider and BEST website by the travel trade.