From bastis

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK, or Britain) is an island nation located on the north-western coast of continental Europe. The UK comprises four constituent nations: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Contents 1 Country Profile 1.1 Geography/Population 1.2 Politics 1.3 Economy 2 Tourism Demand 2.1 General 2.2 International travel 2.3 Travel behaviour 2.4 Holiday planning 2.5 Heritage Tourism 3 Traffic links into the Baltic Sea Region 3.1 Air 3.2 Sea 3.3 Rail 3.4 Road 4 References

Country Profile

Geography/Population

• Land area: 243,610 km² (country comparison to the world: 79)
• Population: 62.3 million inhabitants (country comparison to the world: 22); 250 inhabitants/km²; white (of which English 83.6%, Scottish 8.6%, Welsh 4.9%, Northern Irish 2.9%) 92.1%, black 2%, Indian 1.8%, Pakistani 1.3%, mixed 1.2%, other 1.6%
• Biggest Cities: London (7,517,000), Birmingham (995,000), Glasgow (632,000), Liverpool (478,000), Leed (448,000), Sheffield (446,000), Manchester (443,000), Bristol (440,000), Edindburgh (439,000)
• Urbanisation: 90% of the British population live in cities
• Religions: Christian (Anglican, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, Methodist) 71.6%, Muslim 2.7%, Hindu 1%, other 1.6%, unspecified or none 23.1% (includes Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Baptist, Muslim, Jewish, and Buddhist) 13%
• Languages: English Note: the following are recognized regional languages: Scots (about 30% of the population of Scotland), Scottish Gaelic (about 60,000 in Scotland), Welsh (about 20% of the population of Wales), Irish (about 10% of the population of Northern Ireland), Cornish (some 2,000 to 3,000 in Cornwall)
• Age structure (Median age: 39.8 years):

0-14 years: 16.7%

15-64 years: 67.1%

65+ years: 16.2%

• Population projection: Against the European trend there will be small population growth in the future (2025: 66.6 million inhabitants)

_{Source: CIA - The World Factbook 2011 ^[1], UN Population divison 2010 ^[2]}

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Politics

• Government type: unitary parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy
• Chief of state: Queen ELISABETH II (since 1952)
• Head of government: David Cameron (since 2010)
• Administration: England in 9 regions, 36 counties, 46 districts; Scotland in 32 disctricts; Wales in 22 districts; Northern Ireland in 26 districts

_{Source: CIA - The World Factbook 2011 ^[1]}

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Economy

	2007	2008	2009	2010*	2011*	2015*
GDP (PPP) in billion US$	2,168.3	2,214.3	2,125.1	2,181.1	2,254.1	2,642.9
GDP development	+5.7%	+2.1%	-4.0%	+2.6%	+3.3%
GDP per capita (PPP) in US$	35,600	36,100	34,400	35,100	36,000	41,100
Inflation rate	2.3%	3.6%	2.1%	3.1%	2.5%
Unemployment rate	5.4%	5.6%	7.5%	7.9%	7.4%

^{*2010, 2011, 2015 data: estimates by IMF, October 2010}

• GDP-composition by sector: services: 77.1% industry: 22.1% agriculture: 0.9%
• Most important economic sectors: Financial sector (banks, insurances), energy industry (large coal, gas and oil ressources), car industry), chemical and pharmaceutical industry, tourism. Industrial metropolises: Manchester, Birmingham, Liverpool and Leeds
• Import- and export: Most important partners are Germany, USA , Netherlands, France, Belgium-Luxemburg, Italy, China (Import), Norway (Export), Ireland (Export) and Spain (Export)
• Currency: 1 British pound (GBP) = 100 Pence and 1 Euro = 0.874556 pound sterling (April 2010)
• Income distribution: The British distibution of income is quite balanced (slightly above-average, position 48 worldwide)
• HDI (Human Development Index): The UK is a „Very High Human Development“ Country (2010: country comparison in the world: 26)
• Media access: 71% of British households with Internet access; 195 Phones per 100 inhabitants; ICT Development Index (IDI), worldwide benchmarking of communication infrastructure: Rank 10

_{Source: IMF World Economic Outlook Database ^[3], CIA - The World Factbook 2011 ^[1], DZT Incoming Großbritannien 2011 ^[4], UNDP Human Development Report 2010 ^[5], OECD Factbook (2010) ^[6]}

Tourism Demand

General

• Travel propensity: 72% of the British travelled at least once in 2009, either for business or private purposes. This value is quite close to the average value of all European countries (69%). Note: travelling was defined as spending one night away from home, for private or business purposes.
• "Private" travel propensity:

68% of the British had travelled – for private reasons – at least once in 2009

31% had made at least one holiday trip (4+ nights) and at least one short private trip (1-3 nights)

24% had made at least one holiday trip but no short private trips

13% had made at least one short private trip but no holiday trips

• Travel frequency of the British private travellers:

20% of them made exactly one holiday or short private trip in 2009

21% made two

14% made three

21% four to five

17% six to ten

11% more than ten trips

• Domestic holidays: The share of main holiday trips of the British with domestic destinations was only 23% in 2008. In European comparison this value is very low. Other countries with low domestic shares are e.g. the Benelux states and Germany, because traditionally in these countries holiday trips abroad dominate.

_{Source: Flash Eurobarometer 291 (2010) ^[7] Flash Eurobarometer 258 (2009) ^[8]}

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International travel

	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009
Number of international trips of the British	59.3 million	61.5 million	62.5 million	64.1 million	66.1 million	58.4 million

• Holiday/business/VFR: 70% of the 58.4 million international trips in 2009 were holiday, 15% business, 9% VFR (visiting friends and relatives)
• Long/short holidays: 79% of the 40.9 million private trips abroad in 2009 were "long" holiday trips (4+ nights), 21% were "short" holiday trips (1-3 nights). The UK is (like Germany) one of the most important countries for outbound tourism.
• Frequency of international travel: on average, every British (15+ years old) took 1.2 international trips in 2009
• Regional source markets: 31% of international trips in 2009 originated from the region London and South East England, 24% from the Midlands, 22% from North England, 12% from South West England, 7% from Scotland and 4% from Northern Ireland
• Destinations all international trips 2009:

1. Spain (21%; 12.1 million)

2. France (13%; 7.7 million)

3. Asia/Pacific Region (10%; 5.8 million)

4. USA (7%; 4.1 million)

5. Ireland (5%; 2.9 million)

• Destinations international holiday trips 2009 ("long" and "short" holidays):

1. Spain (26%; 10.6 million)

2. France (11%; 4.5 million)

3. Asia/Pacific Region (10%; 4.1 million)

4. USA (7%; 2.9 million)

• Duration of international trips of the British 2009:

International holiday trips: 8.8 nights

International VFR trips: 8.5 nights

International business trips: 4.5 nights

• International travel spendings 2009: total 66.7 billion Euro - corresponding to 1,151 Euro per international trip and 142 Euro per night abroad. Note: including all costs of travel and transport at home and at the destination

_{Source: IPK International: World Travel Monitor 2009. In: DZT Incoming Großbritannien 2011 ^[4]}

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Travel behaviour

• Major Motivation for main holiday trip 2009:

1. Rest/recreation 36% [EU27: 37%]

2. Sun/beach 27% [EU27: 19%]

3. Visiting someone 21% [EU27: 17%]

• Method of transport for main holiday trip 2009:

1. Airplane 63% [EU27: 35%]

2. Car 24% [EU27: 48%]

3. Train 4% [EU27: 7%]

4. Bus 3% [EU27: 6%]

5. Boat 3% [EU27: 2%]

• Organisation of main holiday trip 2009:

44% Travel organised individually [EU27: 58%]

10% Travel booked through travel agency [EU27: 13%]

18% Package tour booked via Internet [EU27: 11%]

18% Package tour booked through travel agency [EU27: 10%]

9% Other [EU27: 7%]

_{Source: Flash Eurobarometer 291 (2010) ^[7]}

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Holiday planning

• Holiday destination choice criteria of the British:

1. Cultural heritage 30% [EU27: 25%]

2. Entertainment 24% [EU27: 16%]

3. The environment 15% [EU27: 32%]

• Information sources for holiday planning:

1. Recommendations of friends/relatives: total 65% [EU27: 58%], most important source 35% [EU27: 30%]

2. Internet: total 45% [EU27: 42%], most important source 27% [EU27: 24%]

3. Personal experience: total 30% [EU27: 31%], most important source 16% [EU27: 18%]

4. Catalogues/brochures: total 18% [EU27: 14%], most important source 6% [EU27: 6%]

5. Travel and tourist agencies: total 14% [EU27: 22%], most important source 6% [EU27: 11%]

6. Guidebooks/magazines: total 13% [EU27: 12%], most important source 5% [EU27: 5%]

7. Media (TV, radio, newspaper): total 10% [EU27: 9%], most important source 4% [EU27: 3%]

• Destination preferences:

60% Traditional, well-known destinations [EU27: 57%]

30% Non-traditional, emerging destinations [EU27: 28%]

9% Not important, no preference [EU27: 13%]

• Planned destination main holiday trip 2010:

23% United Kingdom

2% Baltic Sea Region

52% Outside BSR

24% No main holiday planned

_{Source: Flash Eurobarometer 291 (2010) ^[7]}

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Heritage Tourism

• Major Motivation for main holiday trip 2009:

1. Rest/recreation 36% [EU27: 37%]

2. Sun/beach 27% [EU27: 19%]

3. Visiting someone 21% [EU27: 17%]

4. Culture/religion 5% [EU27: 6%]

5. Sports-related 3% [EU27: 4%]

6. City trip 3% [EU27: 7%]

7. Nature 3% [EU27: 6%]

• Holiday destination choice criteria of the British:

1. Cultural heritage 30% [EU27: 25%]

2. Entertainment 24% [EU27: 16%]

3. The environment 15% [EU27: 32%]

4. Festivals/events 6% [EU27: 5%]

5. Gastronomy 4% [EU27: 6%]

6. Art 2% [EU27: 6%]

• Expectations about emerging destinations:

Expectations about emerging destinations vary widely across the different European countries. In the UK respondents's main expactions lay in the 'discovery of local culture and lifestyle' (42% [EU27: 33%]) and better value for money is also rather important (23%). Consequently other expectations, such as lower prices, better environmental quality and better quality of service only played a minor role for the British

_{Source: Flash Eurobarometer 291 (2010) ^[7]}

Traffic links into the Baltic Sea Region

Air

The UK has plenty of airports, with six airports in London alone, all of which handle both domestic and international flights (e.g. to the Baltic Sea Region).

London Heathrow International Airport is one of the busiest airports in the world. It is a hub for Europe and has flights to hundreds of destinations operated by scores of carriers from all four corners of the globe.

Gatwick International Airport is located south of London and is the UK's second busiest airport.

Edinburgh International Airport is Scotland's chief airport that is located near the capital.

Cardiff International Airport is Wales' number one airport with flights to destination across Europe and the UK.

Please look up the airport links for their current connections into the BSR:

• London Heathrow Airport
• London Gatwick Airport
• Edingburgh Airport
• Cardiff Airport

Sea

There are no ferry-connections from the United Kingdom to the Baltic Sea Region.

Rail

Due to geographical reasons, there are no direct train connections from the UK to the Baltic Sea Region. But it is possible, to take the train to Amsterdam (with the Eurostar high speed train via the Channel tunnel or 'rail and sail' with the 'Dutch Flyer') and to pass on to Germany. For further information see Eurostar or Dutch Flyer.

Road

Due to geographical reasons, there are no road-connections from the United Kingdom to the Baltic Sea Region.

References

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2} CIA - The World Factbook, January 2011 [1]
2. ↑ UN Population division 2010 [2]
3. ↑ IMF (International Monetary Fund): World Economic Outlook Database, October 2010 [3]
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1} Deutsche Zentrale für Tourismus: Marktinformationen Incoming Großbritannien 2011 [4]
5. ↑ UNDP Human Development Report 2010[5]
6. ↑ OECD Factbook 2010: Economic, Environmental and Social Statistics [6]
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3} European Commission: Flash Eurobarometer 291, March 2010: Survey on the attitudes of Europeans towards tourism [7]
8. ↑ European Commission: Flash Eurobarometer 258, March 2019: Survey on the attitudes of Europeans towards tourism [8]