With the government aiming to welcome 50 million international visitors to the UK annually by 2030, Experience Oxfordshire is actively working to ensure the county benefits from this growth.
The 2025 edition of the Oxfordshire Visitor Guide has already been launched. This online publication offers a range of itineraries for long weekend breaks, walks, shopping, dining, accommodation options, and travel information, making it a valuable resource for those seeking a getaway.
During the first quarter, the team will attend key business shows and exhibitions to encourage domestic and international travel trade and conference buyers to consider Oxfordshire in their offerings.
In January, the Experience Oxfordshire team will attend the annual Britain and Ireland Marketplace in London and meet with domestic and international travel buyers in one-on-one appointments. Following this event, a select group of Canadian buyers and VisitBritain Canada representatives will visit Oxfordshire as part of VisitBritain’s Showcase Britain initiative.
Experience Oxfordshire plans to visit France, Canada, and the USA in February to engage with key influencers. They will join VisitBritain in Paris to meet with travel agencies and tour operators, promoting Oxfordshire to these regions. A delegation will also travel to New York and Toronto to secure new business for the destination, meeting with media and industry professionals from the UK’s top inbound market.
Later in the month, Experience Oxfordshire, alongside local partners including Didcot Railway Centre, Heythrop Park Hotel, Keble College, Oxford Official Walking Tours, Silverstone Museum, and Waddesdon Manor, will attend the Excursions show at Wembley Stadium. This long-running UK domestic group travel event offers Oxfordshire the chance to meet with group travel organisers, coach operators, and tour operators. Additionally, Experience Oxfordshire Venues, supported by the OxLEP-managed visitor economy programme, will represent the county’s meeting and event venues at International Confex, aiming to attract interest from corporate buyers and agencies.
Hayley Beer-Gamage, CEO at Experience Oxfordshire said, “The government is right to set an ambitious growth target and delivery of it will require commitment from both the government and the sector to work together smartly. As an organisation underpinned by a strong partnership ethos everything we do is planned and executed with the needs of our partners clearly in mind.
“As well as attending exhibitions and shows, carefully chosen to be in our partners best interests, we deliver business support programmes and events to ensure all members of Oxfordshire’s visitor economy, that’s businesses large and small, local authorities and key influencers, are kept up to speed on our sector, its challenges and opportunities. We’d be delighted to hear from any businesses interested in joining our partnership.”
With a packed programme of trade engagement and a partner events calendar including networking, hospitality business lunch and venues and partner meetings, Experience Oxfordshire is looking forward to a successful year of business development and delivery.
Click here to find out more about Experience Oxfordshire.
