The Royal Baby Tourist Boom Invades Twitter Jul 23rd 2013, 15:09
#RoyalBaby is running wild on Twitter today. Nothing in many years has caught the imaginations of royalty watchers the world over as the marriage of Prince William and Kate, watched by 24 million worldwide, and now the royal issue, a son born to the future monarch of Britain.
For Britain’s tourism industry, it might be the biggest news since the Norman Invasion. VisitBritain released a statement in which Lady Cobham, the chairman of VisitEngland, discusses the impact the birth of the new prince has already had on tourism.
“The Royal Family has long been an asset to English tourism,” says Lady Cobham, “but never moreso than right now, with people across the world in a fever pitch of excitement around the arrival of the royal baby. The new addition to the Royal Family allows us to celebrate our rich heritage and highlight what families can enjoy on a visit to England.”
With America’s founding fathers so eloquently rejecting royalty as a form of government some Yankees may have trouble comprehending Britain’s pride in its royalty. But when in England, that pride is palpable, if not downright contagious, and there is no better time to experience it than now, in the wake of the birth of a son to the attractive young royal family.
According to Lady Cobham, “The spell cast by the Monarchy’s 1,000-year history combined with the international media frenzy around the royal baby is extremely powerful at drawing people to England. The global excitement shows that Britain’s monarchic heritage draws tourists to just about every corner of the country. In turn, the birth will also heighten the profile of England’s royal attractions, from Kensington Palace, where the Duke and Duchess will live, to Windsor Castle and the Sandringham Estate. England’s distinctive royal places are a very important and unique part of our heritage and culture. In 2012 alone, 4.7 million holidaymakers visited a historic house, stately home or palace during their time in England and, indeed, I opened my own former home to the public for 20 years.”
Britain’s tourism industry has quickly fallen into line behind this potential bonanza, with many hotels, attractions and tour operators offering royal baby-themed packages. The Hilton London Kensington is offering a Tot-ter Around Kensington package, with a two-night shopping break targeting expectant mothers or mother-daughter pairs. The Grosvenor House Hotel on Park Lane transformed one of its luxury suites into a nursery in honor of the royal family. The Museum of London is running an exhibit to show baby clothes and other relics of royal babies in history.
VisitBritain is offering a microsite with “Top 10 Kate Middleton and Prince William Locations” for travelers who just can’t get enough of that #RoyalBaby.
Now if VisitBritain can find a way to connect Baby Cambridge with #sharknado....?
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