Oxford Magic Walking Tours, a 90 minute small group Oxford walking tour mixing university history, film locations, and live close up magic, is marking a five star season while making one point clear: UK tourism is essential. It is a £147 billion pillar of the economy, supporting 2.4 million jobs and delivering £52 billion in tax revenues.
Why this matters right now
• The UK and the US are in a fast moving dispute over Greenland, with tariff talk and political pressure raising the temperature. UK leaders are urging de escalation while talks continue.
• Americans are Britain’s number one inbound market. In 2024 the UK welcomed 5.6 million US visits worth £7.3 billion, about one pound in every five of all inbound visitor spend. Total inbound spend across all markets was £32.5 billion.
If US tourism were to stall because of a prolonged row, Britain risks a direct hit of about £7.3 billion a year before knock on effects to suppliers, tax receipts, and high street jobs. That is not a holiday issue. That is payrolls in cafés, hotels, shops, taxis, attractions and tours across the country.
By the numbers from national research
• £147bn a year to the UK economy, about 5 percent of GDP, counting direct and supply chain impacts.
• Bigger employer than insurance and pensions combined, with 2.4m UK jobs supported.
• £52bn in tax revenues, more than half the NHS England wages bill.
• Forecast to reach £161bn by 2030 in 2024 prices, 9.3 percent real growth, outpacing the wider economy at 8.8 percent. Inbound demand is a key driver.
• 2024 inbound total: 42.6m visits, £32.5bn spend.
"Tourism isn’t a nice to have it’s essential. It’s £147bn a year, 2.4m UK jobs and £52bn in tax revenue. Americans alone spent £7.3bn here last year almost a quarter of all inbound spend. That money keeps people in jobs on the high street baristas, chefs, taxi drivers, hotel staff, guides and shop workers.” - Shane Sterling, Oxford University alumnus, and CEO of Oxford Magic Walking Tours.
• 84 percent of domestic overnight tourism spend happens outside London. • If British travellers shifted just 10 percent of what they spend on trips abroad to holidays at home, it would add £8 billion a year to the economy.
About Oxford Magic Walking Tours
Oxford Magic Walking Tours is a 90-minute, small-group experience led by founder Shane Sterling, an Oxford University alumnus and Judo Full Blue who has performed and still Performs for members of the British Royal Family. The tour blends Oxford University history, film locations (including Harry Potter spots), and live close-up magic. Guests praise its balance of entertainment and factual insight, earning five-star reviews across major platforms. The company has been recognised in trade coverage as Best New Tourism Business 2025 and holds a Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice 2025 award, with the experience consistently top rated on Tripadvisor a must do when visiting Oxford
Testimonials:
Kylie – United States December 11, 2025 – Verified booking Get your Guide: “We wholeheartedly enjoyed it. It was a tour with a magical twist :-) Shane was super personable, funny, and knowledgeable. He also has really interesting magic tricks. This is hands out the best tour we have ever done, and we have done quite a few internationally!”
Media Contact
Company Name: oxford magic walking tours
Contact Person: Shane Sterling
Email:Send Email
Phone: 07411001382
Address:13 Broad Street
City: Oxford
State: Oxfordshire
Country: United Kingdom
Website: http://www.oxfordmagictours.com/