If Paris is the world congress capitalLondon is now the city of connectivity. This is the message sent out by London's tourism authorities on 10 May, in a study signed by fDi Benchmark. The latter points out that the capital's six airports link it to 336 destinations worldwide a figure that has risen sharply over the past year (+5,7%). Outdistanced by its neighbour and rival, Paris still ranks second on the world podium, with 269 destinations served, ahead of Frankfurt (242).
The British capital's hyper-connectivity is the logical explanation for its appeal to business travellers and international conferences. " A destination may have the best event infrastructure, but it won't work if guests can't get there easily. "Rachael Boraston, Head of Sales and Marketing at Principal. London DMC. " Good connectivity often also means savings for event organisers, which is crucial in these times of budget restrictions "she continues.
London's appeal to business travel and MICE customers is reflected in the figures. According to the Office for National Statistics International Passenger Survey, international business travellers grew by 34% over the last five years. The record figure of 3.7 million business visitors was even reached in 2015, representing 20% of visitors.
Since the announcement of the UK's exit from the European Union, those responsible for business tourism in London have been making numerous announcements, emphasising the attractiveness of the British capital. Back in October, London & Partners reported that MICE boom in LondonThe company reported an increase in applications of 41% between June and September 2016.
