Press Releases

Experience Oxfordshire reports positive start to post-pandemic recovery – whilst advocating for ongoing intervention and support for the visitor economy

Experience Oxfordshire, the Destination Management Organisation (DMO) for the county, has released new data which shows a positive start to the Oxfordshire visitor economy’s post pandemic recovery. The Economic Impact Report for Tourism in Oxfordshire (2021), a report commissioned by Experience Oxfordshire, shows a significant recovery in the volume of trips to the county and…

New VisitBritain Chairman calls for a “coalition of the willing,” when discussing latest plans for visitor economy at Experience Oxfordshire event

The newly appointed Chairman of VisitBritain, Nick de Bois CBE, called for collaboration and ambition from Oxfordshire’s visitor economy businesses when he joined sector leaders and guests recently at the annual Experience Oxfordshire’s Ambassadors’ Dinner. Speaking at Gees Restaurant in Oxford, De Bois complimented Experience Oxfordshire for their ongoing collaboration with national tourism agency VisitBritain/VisitEngland…

Oxford Official Walking Tours launch Festive Tour for the holiday and Christmas party season!

With the holiday season upon us, Oxford Official Walking Tours launch a seasonal addition to their walking tours programme – the Festive Private Group Tour. This brand-new tour, led by a jolly guide, takes in Oxford’s Christmas lights and sights with tales of the city’s Christmases past, present and future. Tours are available from Thursday…

Experience Oxfordshire increase local business bookings and raise profile of Oxfordshire to new audiences

As part of recent sector recovery work, almost 27 million people were reached by Experience Oxfordshire’s “Escape to Oxford” marketing campaign this summer. The local marketing initiative formed part of VisitEngland’s ‘Escape the Everyday’ campaign to support England’s tourism industry recovery post-pandemic. Experience Oxfordshire worked with Navigate Agency, on the VisitEngland funded campaign, to attract…

Experience Oxfordshire launches Only in Oxfordshire autumn short-breaks campaign

Experience Oxfordshire, the Destination Management Organisation for the county, has launched a marketing campaign aimed at encouraging domestic visitors to explore the breadth and depth of Oxfordshire this autumn. The campaign, Only in Oxfordshire, highlights the accommodation, attractions, food and drink and shopping opportunities available across the county’s five districts: Oxford City, Cherwell, South Oxfordshire,…

Experience Oxfordshire welcomes news of a VAT-free shopping scheme for international visitors to the UK

Experience Oxfordshire, the Destination Management Organisation for the county, has welcomed the plan, announced as part of the government’s recent mini-budget, to introduce a new scheme allowing international visitors to reclaim the cost of VAT on their purchases. Hayley Beer-Gamage, CEO, said: “In the highly competitive global tourism marketplace, retail is a key incentive for…

Experience Oxfordshire appoints new board members

The Chair of Experience Oxfordshire, Joanna Davidson CBE, was delighted to officially welcome two new Board Directors and Trustees at the recent board meeting held at Bicester Hotel Golf and Spa. Cllr Duncan Enright and Nicola Poole joined the current Board in their task of supporting, advising and guiding Experience Oxfordshire, the county’s destination management…

Oxford Official Walking Tours Receives 2022 TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Award

Experience Oxfordshire, the county’s destination management organisation, and operator of the Oxford Official Walking Tours, is delighted to announce that, the tours have once again been recognised with a 2022 TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Award. The award is based on a full year of positive reviews for delivering amazing experiences to visitors and marks the Oxford…

Experience Oxford – 5 Inspirational Experiences to Escape the Everyday

Nestled between London to its south east and the Cotswolds to its north west, the city of Oxford and its green surrounds has an abundance of attractions to suit all budgets. With summer upon us and staycations a popular option, Experience Oxfordshire is highlighting a variety of affordable bookable experiences as part of its new…

Experience Oxfordshire launches ‘Escape to Oxford’ campaign to support tourism recovery

Experience Oxfordshire, the Destination Management Organisation for Oxfordshire, is encouraging domestic visitors to ‘Escape to Oxford’ this summer with the launch of a new campaign funded by VisitEngland. The local marketing initiative forms part of the National Tourist Board’s ‘Escape the Everyday’ marketing campaign supporting England’s tourism industry recovery. The campaign, which aims to attract…

Oxford Official Walking Tours, operated by Experience Oxfordshire, are delighted to announce the re-launch of their comprehensive tours programme.

Summer in the city and what better way to get to know Oxford than through the eyes of a professional resident! With a millennium and a quarter’s worth of history, Oxford is a city of stories. And the friendly guides working on the Oxford Official Walking Tours are the perfect people to tell them. As…

Experience Oxfordshire and John Lewis & Partners host celebration of 40 Years of Oxfordshire Artweeks

Following on from last year’s successful Inspirational Oxfordshire arts and culture campaign, Experience Oxfordshire, the Destination Management Organisation (DMO) for Oxfordshire, invited businesses from across Oxfordshire’s visitor economy to join the county’s arts and cultural practitioners at Oxford John Lewis & Partners in Westgate Oxford on 5th May, to celebrate 40 wonderful years of Oxfordshire…

Latest research from Experience Oxfordshire indicates visitors’ positive perceptions, and businesses’ cautious concerns, on the Visitor Economy’s road to recovery

Experience Oxfordshire, the Destination Management Organisation (DMO) for Oxfordshire, has released the results of two surveys it commissioned to ascertain the level of confidence amongst Oxfordshire’s visitor economy businesses and the views of potential visitors. Almost two thirds of business who responded to the Business Survey 2022 said that their trading for 2021 was worse than in…

Experience Oxfordshire launches campaign with GWR (Great Western Railway), with up to 50% off selected Advance tickets in the Great British Rail Sale

Experience Oxfordshire, the Destination Management Organisation (DMO) for Oxfordshire is delighted to announce the launch of its new campaign, in partnership with GWR (Great Western Railway), to encourage visitors to explore Oxfordshire by train. ‘From its dreaming spires to its green grass shire’ highlights the value and ease of travelling by rail to destinations across…

Experience Oxfordshire successful in securing a second round of funding from VisitEngland to support the recovery of the Oxfordshire visitor economy

Experience Oxfordshire, the Destination Management Organisation (DMO) for Oxfordshire, is encouraging UK visitors to “Escape the Everyday” in the county this spring with a campaign funded by VisitEngland, the National Tourist Board. Following on the success of last year’s Escape the Everyday in Oxfordshire campaign, the organisation is one of 11 destinations chosen to deliver…

MPs show strong support for Oxfordshire’s Visitor Economy during English Tourism Week

Oxfordshire’s MPs are showing their support for the tourism sector this week by visiting businesses in their constituencies as part of Experience Oxfordshire’s extensive programme of activity, marking English Tourism Week 2022. Dedicated to highlighting the importance of tourism to local economies and promoting the innovation, quality and range of experiences on offer in England,…

Building back Oxfordshire’s Visitor Economy: Experience Oxfordshire’s New 2022 Visitor Guide Now Available

Experience Oxfordshire, the Destination Management Organisation (DMO) for Oxfordshire has launched the 2022 edition of the Official Oxfordshire Visitor Guide. It’s available online now at https://www.experienceoxfordshire.org/oxfordshire-visitor-guide The Visitor Guide is packed full of ideas and information, providing visitors and locals to Oxfordshire with the up-to-date insights and inspiration they need to get the most out…

Latest Figures show Severe Impact of Covid-19 on Oxfordshire’s Visitor Economy

Experience Oxfordshire, the Destination Management Organisation (DMO) for the county, has released new data on the economic impact of tourism for 2020 which shows the severe impact the pandemic has had on Oxfordshire’s visitor economy. The Economic Impact Report for Tourism in Oxfordshire, a report commissioned by Experience Oxfordshire, shows a staggering 59% decline in…

Experience Oxfordshire sees record web traffic from digital campaign

Experience Oxfordshire worked alongside VisitEngland and strategic marketing agency, Digital Visitor, on a social and digital campaign for a two-month period in June and July 2021. The highly successful campaign focused on the ‘Escape the Everyday’ branding and delivered a record-breaking volume of relevant traffic to the site.   The digital campaign was launched to…

Experience Oxfordshire MP roundtable reflects on the impact of Covid and the challenges faced for tourism recovery across the region

Last Friday, Hayley Beer-Gamage, CEO of Experience Oxfordshire hosted an MP roundtable with Robert Courts, Conservative MP for Witney and West Oxfordshire and Anneliese Dodds, Labour MP for East Oxfordshire, plus a variety of businesses from across the region including representatives from Bicester Village, Blenheim Palace, and the Oxford Bus Company to discuss the Governments…

Experience Oxfordshire launches ‘The Oxfordshire Hospitality Guide’ to support local businesses

Experience Oxfordshire, the Destination Management Organisation (DMO) for Oxfordshire has today launched a brand-new online guide to support hospitality businesses across the county. The Oxfordshire Hospitality Guide has been designed to showcase places to eat and drink across Oxfordshire as well as provide both locals and visitors information and inspiration of where they should visit…