In this plenary session by Laura Van Eeckhout of Foresight Factory, we will explore how the needs of young travellers in particular have changed during these unprecedented times and how they can be attracted through experiences that are adapted to the next normal, yet as exciting and inspiring as ever.

The Leader of the House of Commons has announced that there will be a general debate on support for the tourism industry after the Covid-19 lockdown on Thursday 10 September.

We urge members and stakeholder to write to their MP today encouraging them to attend the debate and speak in support of the UK ELT sector as an important part of the tourism industry.

It's taken over two months to be officially accepted as a Government petition, but this week our plea for business rates relief to be granted to all ELT centres finally went live.

So – please share it! We need 10,000 signatures to get an official response, and 100,000 for a guaranteed Parliamentary debate. Signatories need to be resident in the UK, so please don't share with overseas partners, but friends, family, staff, colleagues and host families would be perfect.

Exports Minister Graham Stuart has written an open letter to international ELT students, welcoming them back to UK classrooms and recognising English UK and its members work on focussing on student safety and latest government guidance. 

The UK welcomed 1% more students last year than in 2018, continuing from the market rebound of 2017.

The proportion of juniors rose to 54% of the total, and a quarter of all weeks were spent in London. Central England saw a 21% spike in student weeks, while Northern England was the best performer, with student weeks rising to 25,877, a rise of 9%.