VisitBritain, the national tourism agency for Great Britain, has officially introduced Carl Walsh as the new Senior Vice President for the United States of America.
Carl will be stationed in New York and will be responsible for leading VisitBritain’s efforts throughout the USA. His main goal will be to boost growth in the American market by executing travel trade and communication strategies.
Additionally, Carl will play a key role in supporting our joint initiatives with various government entities in the USA.
VisitBritain’s Executive Vice President, The Americas, Australia & New Zealand, Paul Gauger said:
“I am delighted to announce Carl’s appointment to the newly created position of Senior Vice President, USA. He brings extensive tourism knowledge to the role, drawing from decades of experience both back in Britain and here in the USA, with significant industry relationships and insight gained from working with the travel trade over many years at VisitBritain . The introduction of this new role acknowledges the importance of the USA as the UK’s top source market for tourism visits and spend, underscoring our commitment to driving continued growth.”
The United States remains at the forefront of the recovery of tourism in the United Kingdom, with American visitors setting a new spending record according to the most recent year-to-date data from January to September 2023. The spending has increased by 28% compared to 2019, even after adjusting for inflation.
VisitBritain anticipates that the American market will reach £6.3 billion in 2024, with American tourists contributing nearly £1 out of every £5 spent by inbound visitors. The organization predicts that there will be 5.3 million visits from the USA to the UK this year, marking a 17% increase from 2019.
Recent statistics on flight bookings reveal that air passenger arrivals from the USA to the UK between April and September this year are 12% higher than during the same period in 2019.
To support this growth, VisitBritain’s GREAT Britain marketing campaigns in the USA are highlighting the vibrant cities, modern culture, and stunning landscapes of Britain, encouraging visitors to explore more of the country, extend their stays, and visit now. The campaigns aim to inspire visitors to ‘See Things Differently’ by offering new and exciting experiences, along with a warm British welcome.
VisitBritain is the national tourism agency for Britain, responsible for promoting Britain globally as a visitor destination and positioning it as a dynamic and diverse destination while promoting sustainable and inclusive tourism.