Brexit - good or bad for British tourism?

Brexit - good or bad for British tourism?
By Euronews
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Tourism will certainly be affected by a decision by British voters to leave the European Union - but will it be for better or worse?

The two sides in the referendum over whether Britain stays in the European Union are arguing about every aspect of the decision and the effects it will have on the UK’s economy.

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Tourism is one area which the remain camp says will be hit by a Brexit and Deidre Wells, the head of UKinbound, which represents British domestic tour companies agrees given that 67 percent are visitors are from the European Union: “I’ve described it as economic suicide in the past. Why would you deliberately remove yourself from a market that provides two thirds of our business for our members.”

It is generally agreed that the pound would fall in value against other currencies if there were a vote to leave the EU.

And travel analyst Alexander Goransson, from Euromonitor International, believes the currency change would have both positive and negative impacts on tourism: “UK tourists would be less likely to travel abroad and stay at home, whereas on the other hand the UK would actually become a more attractive destination for inbound tourists as prices would be relatively cheaper.”

Visit Britain, the national tourism agency said there were just over 36 million tourist visits last year.

On the Thames views among European visitors were mixed.

An Italian man said: “I support Brexit, because it makes sense economically, as the UK economy is stronger than most of the EU countries.”

While a German woman felt the opposite: “I think it is hard now because the idea is to get Europe together not apart.”

Not wishing to take chances with a business worth the equivalent of 28 billion euros last year, many in the travel industry say they are hoping Britain will stay in Europe.

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