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Tourism Alliance Weekly Update
From Eddy Leviten, Executive Director
The sun is shining and the hosepipe bans are out but the numbers this week tell a story the sector already knows: growth without margin. Hotel occupancy in England fell to 83% in June (down 1.5 percentage points on last year) while RevPAR grew just 1%, trailing inflation. Businesses are working harder for less. VisitBritain’s own State of the Nation data confirms the picture: accommodation revenue is up 4% year-to-date, but that growth isn’t translating into resilience, and forecasters now put UK tourism growth at just 1.5% this year, against 6.3% for Western Europe.
- Occupancy: 83% (June), down 1.5pp year-on-year
- RevPAR growth: 1%, below the 2.6% inflation rate
- UK tourism growth forecast: 1.5% this year vs. 6.3% for Western Europe
- Domestic trip intentions: down to 74%, from 77% a year ago
This isn’t a sector in crisis, but it is one losing ground to competitors while carrying a cost burden they don’t share. Parliament is in recess until 1 September, but the in-tray doesn’t pause with it. The Budget is now confirmed for 28 October, and HM Treasury’s representation portal closes on 9 September — a hard deadline for us to put ring-fencing of the Overnight Visitor Levy on the record before ministers start writing the small print. Then we also add in VAT, business rates and other factors which need to be addressed.
<insert name of Tourism Minister here*>: the sector needs clarity before the autumn, not after it. Tourism businesses are planning 2027 now. And to the PM, Chancellor and Angela Rayner — give us a firm answer on OVL ring-fencing before recess ends.
*and we still don’t know, before you ask!
Tourism Policy Conference 2026
Early Bird booking is open. Under the theme “Tourism 2030: Growth, Access and Competitiveness,” join us on 17 November in London for a day of high-level discussion on competitiveness, inbound access, workforce and skills, and the role of tourism in wider UK growth policy.
Submit Your News
Do you have news, events or announcements relevant to the visitor economy? Members are welcome to submit items for inclusion in future editions. Please send submissions to mandy.belnick@tourismalliance.com.
Parliamentary & Political
New Chancellor Confirmed, Budget Date Set for 28 October
HM Treasury has confirmed the team and responsibilities under The Rt Hon John Healey MP, Chancellor of the Exchequer. He is joined by Emma Reynolds as Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Lucy Rigby KC MP as Economic Secretary to the Treasury and City Minister, Daniel Tomlinson MP continuing as Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury (Growth Minister), and James Murray MP returning as Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Paymaster General.
The Chancellor has also confirmed the Budget will take place on Wednesday 28 October. HMT’s Budget Representation Portal is open now and closes at 23:59 on Wednesday 9 September — the deadline for TA to submit a formal representation on OVL ring-fencing and other fiscal matters ahead of the Budget.
Source: HM Treasury — External Affairs Newsletter, July 2026 edition (circulated 4 August 2026)
Row Over Mayoral Tax Rebates from Devolution Windfall
A row has broken out over English fiscal devolution: some Conservative and Reform mayors, including Tees Valley’s Ben Houchen, want to issue tax rebates to residents from new devolved income tax and business rates receipts. Government figures have pushed back, arguing mayors won’t have the power to set regional rates and framing the devolved funding as being for reinvestment rather than local tax-setting. Note: sourced via secondary coverage — the original reporting sits behind a paywall and hasn’t been independently verified against the primary source.
Source: HuffPost UK — Row Erupts As Ministers Refuse To Give Metro Mayors Tax Rebates In Devolution Drive
Industry Intelligence
Hotel Occupancy Softens as Real-Terms Revenue Falls Behind Inflation
VisitEngland’s June 2026 hotel occupancy data shows room occupancy at 83%, down 1.5 percentage points on June 2025, as demand softened while supply held steady. Year-to-date (Jan–June) occupancy is flat at 76% versus 2025. Average Daily Rate rose 3% to £187 — just ahead of the 2.6% inflation rate — but RevPAR grew only 1%, undershooting inflation. Yorkshire & Humberside saw the steepest regional decline (-3pp); the North West was the only region to grow (+2pp to 82%). Larger hotels fell hardest (-2.5pp to 86%). Forward bookings for the rest of 2026 are broadly on par with last year, though July is tracking 1pp behind. Next release: 27 August.
Source: VisitEngland — England Hotel Occupancy, June 2026 (circulated 30 July 2026)
Tourism State of the Nation — Inbound and Domestic Outlook
VisitBritain/VisitEngland’s July State of the Nation report shows inbound volume up around 2% in Q1 versus 2025, with European visits growing but long-haul declining. Flight bookings for August arrivals are running behind last year, though autumn bookings — especially from Europe — look stronger. Domestic and outbound trip intentions dipped in July (74% and 56% respectively, both down year-on-year) after a more positive June reading, as cost-of-living pressures continue to weigh on discretionary spend. Oil price volatility tied to the Iran situation is keeping upward pressure on air costs. Accommodation sector revenue is up 4% year-to-date, but RevPAR growth is lagging inflation — consistent with the occupancy data above. Oxford Economics forecasts just 1.5% UK tourism growth this year, against 6.3% for Western Europe, before a rebound to 7% in 2027.
Source: VisitBritain/VisitEngland — Tourism State of the Nation, July 2026 (circulated 30 July 2026)
“Coolcations” Trend Reshapes Summer Bookings
Industry data shows a shift in domestic traveller behaviour this summer: booking agency loveholidays reports that trips to cooler European cities — Tallinn, Copenhagen and Oslo — have roughly doubled since the June heatwave, as travellers trade sun-and-sand breaks for milder city breaks. Consistent with the softer outbound intentions flagged in this week’s State of the Nation data.
Great British Summer Savings — Registration Still Open
HM Treasury is encouraging hospitality and attraction businesses to register for the Great British Summer Savings scheme, offering discounts to families during the school holidays. The more businesses that take part, HMT notes, the more families benefit — supporting local attractions, hospitality businesses and communities. Registration remains open.
Source: HM Treasury — External Affairs Newsletter, July 2026 edition (circulated 4 August 2026)
Member Events
Event Medical Services Webinar — 11 August
The Event Medical Association and NOEA (UKEVENTS) are hosting a free webinar, “Event Medical Services: Setting up a Medical Facility,” on Tuesday 11 August at 10:00am. The session covers staffing, equipment and facility planning for medical provision across outdoor events of all sizes — relevant to event organisers, medical providers and licensing teams.
Right to Work Information Events — 8 & 14 September
The Home Office’s Future Border & Immigration System programme has added two further broadcast sessions due to demand: 8 September (14:00–15:00) and 14 September (10:00–11:00). Both cover the same content: changes to the Right to Work Scheme taking effect from 1 October 2026, digital immigration status and eVisas, compliant right to work checks, and employer compliance responsibilities. Attendance at one session is sufficient; no registration required.
Tourism Policy Conference 2026 — 17 November
Save the date: Tuesday 17 November 2026, London. Sponsorship opportunities available — contact the TA team.
Forward Look
- Event Medical Services webinar (NOEA/EMA) — 11 August 2026, 10:00am
- European Athletics Championships — Birmingham, August 2026
- Domestic Sentiment Tracker — August wave — 20 August 2026
- England Hotel Occupancy — July data — 27 August 2026, 9:30am
- Business rates paper (Taxation and Competitiveness WG) — targeted for 31 August 2026
- Parliament returns from summer recess — 1 September 2026
- Heathrow NPS consultation closes — 1 September 2026
- Summer Savings scheme ends — 1 September 2026
- Workforce, Skills and Regulatory Burden WG — next meeting — early September 2026
- Right to Work Information Events (Home Office) — 8 September (14:00) and 14 September (10:00) 2026
- Budget Representation Portal closes — 23:59, 9 September 2026
- City Nation Place UK — 23–24 September 2026, Bradford
- Cardiff STR registration deadline — 28 September 2026 (Welsh Revenue Authority)
- Right to Work checks extended to other working arrangements — in force from 1 October 2026
- Budget 2026 — Wednesday 28 October 2026
- Tourism Policy Conference 2026 — 17 November 2026, London
- Visitor Economy Growth Plan — promised “spring” 2026, still not published
- Major Events Strategy — due “by spring” 2027
- Welsh Visitor Levy implementation — from 2027, councils opt in
- Glasgow Visitor Levy launches — 25 January 2027
- Pub business rates cut takes effect — April 2027
- STR registration scheme mandatory (England) — April 2027
- Local government reorganisation — new unitary elections — May 2027
- Tour de France 2027 — UK Grand Départ — Edinburgh to Cardiff (men’s), Leeds to London (women’s), July 2027
- Universal UK Resort opens — 2031
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