Experience UK

13/10/2026

The UK’s Experience Economy has been hiding in plain sight...until now.

Today marks a defining moment as we proudly launch the inaugural Experience Economy Index, developed by Grant Thornton UK in partnership with Experience UK and academics at King’s College London.

For the first time, we have compelling new evidence of the scale, economic power and future potential of an industry that brings people together, creates unforgettable memories and drives growth across the UK.

Just two weeks ahead of the Autumn Budget, we're putting the Experience Economy firmly on the national economic agenda. This is a milestone for our entire industry.

Today, we celebrate the businesses, creators and innovators who make extraordinary experiences possible.


📊 Swipe through the findings

👉 Read the inaugural Experience Economy Index: https://www.grantthornton.co.uk/insights/experience-economy/

28/09/2026

What a week at !

The UK Pavilion has officially wrapped, and what an incredible few days it was.

From our Rabbit Hole Mixer to three packed days on the show floor, it was fantastic to see so many familiar faces, meet new people and showcase the creativity, technology and expertise that make the UK attractions industry so special.

A special shout-out to .group, Lockdown Bar, and .pods for helping make the Rabbit Hole Mixer such a brilliant start to the week!

A huge thank you to everyone who helped make this year’s Pavilion such a success, our amazing showcase partners, sponsors, collaborators and, of course, everyone who stopped by to say hello, grab a coffee, share an idea or start a new conversation.

👏 .one | solutions | Street Furniture | JP SHOW-SYSTEMS | | Photo experience | .pods | Deluxe Group | | republic.

And thank you to the wider UK delegation who helped make the Pavilion such a brilliant hub for connections and collaboration:

Aardman | BatFast | Buzzshot | CAP.CO | Clockwork Dog // COGS | Disguise | DJ WILLRICH AV LIMITED | Factory Fifteen | Fluro Attractions | It’s the Flash Pack | Lodestar | Luminous Show Technology | PIB Insurance Brokers | LOOP by Semantic.

A special thank you to Katapult | B-Corp Certified for sponsoring our Walled Garden space - and congratulations again on celebrating 25 years of Katapult (hashtag ). We certainly enjoyed raising a glass together at the annual Themed Entertainment Association Mixer on Wednesday evening!

Most importantly, thank you to everyone who came along and supported the UK Pavilion. It was brilliant to see the UK attractions industry coming together and showcasing the very best of what the UK has to offer on the international stage.

Here’s a video highlighting the energy from the day, if you see yourself do drop us a comment!

Until next time! 🎢

hashtag hashtag hashtag hashtagUKPavilion hashtagVisitorAttractions hashtagAttractionsIndustry

23/09/2026

What a fantastic first day at !✨

It was brilliant to see the UK Pavilion buzzing with conversations, new connections and opportunities, showcasing the creativity, innovation and expertise of the UK Experience Economy to the international attractions industry.

Come and meet the Experience UK team, connect with our fantastic showcase partners and delegation, and discover some of the brilliant British businesses shaping visitor experiences around the world.

📍 Find us at the UK Pavilion, S837


Cinchio solutions street furniture Illusion LEAP Scheme , ventola studio republic

23/09/2026

What a start to Expo Europe week!✨

On Monday night we kicked things off by heading Through the Rabbit Hole for the Experience UK Opening Night Mixer, bringing our community and friends from across the international attractions industry together in London.

A huge thank you to .group for helping us create such a brilliant evening, .pods for bringing the entertainment, Flash Pack for transforming everyone into Alice or The Mad Hatter and our headline sponsor for their fantastic support. 👏

Our biggest-ever UK Pavilion is showcasing the creativity, innovation and expertise of the UK Experience Economy, and, most importantly, create the connections and conversations that turn into opportunities around the world.

📍 Come and see us at the UK Pavilion, S837

21/09/2026

Don’t be late for our very important date ⏰
Follow the white rabbit and see where you end up….

18/03/2026

Oman continues to accelerate its tourism and economic diversification strategy with a major new mixed-use development in Muscat.

A RO230 million ($596M) agreement between Sorouh Al Qurm Real Estate Company and the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism will deliver a large-scale tourism complex in Al Qurm, combining hotels, entertainment, retail and residential units within a single destination.
With over 400 hotel rooms, family-focused attractions and integrated urban living, the project reflects a growing global shift toward multi-purpose tourism environments that serve both visitors and residents.

For the experience economy, developments like this highlight how tourism infrastructure, real estate and leisure are increasingly converging to create sustainable, year-round destinations.



https://www.experienceuk.org/blog/oman-announces-596m-integrated-tourism-complex-development-in-muscat

18/03/2026

Norwegian travel company Up Norway has secured funding to develop a new tourism model centred on cultural values rather than landscapes alone.

The Journeys with Meaning programme aims to diversify Norway’s tourism economy by creating experiences rooted in social practices, food culture, and everyday life. With support from the Research Council of Norway, the initiative brings together researchers, operators, and designers to build a more sustainable, year-round visitor economy.

This reflects a wider shift toward transformation-focused travel, where experiences are designed to foster connection, learning, and personal development.



https://www.experienceuk.org/blog/up-norway-launches-research-led-project-to-position-scandinavian-values-as-tourism-export

18/03/2026

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has announced a €15 million loan to support infrastructure and sustainability upgrades at Terme Čatež, Slovenia’s largest natural thermal resort.

The investment will fund hotel refurbishments, water treatment improvements, wastewater management upgrades and energy efficiency measures, helping the resort strengthen environmental performance and long-term operational resilience.

For the tourism and visitor experience sector, the project highlights how development finance can support established destinations in modernising infrastructure, improving resource management and building more sustainable regional tourism models.



https://www.experienceuk.org/blog/ebrd-provides-%E2%82%AC15m-investment-to-support-sustainable-tourism-at-terme-%C4%8Date%C5%BE

18/03/2026

San Francisco’s Grace Cathedral is hosting a new immersive multimedia experience that demonstrates how heritage architecture can be reinterpreted through digital storytelling.
Titled AURA, the production has been created by Moment Factory in collaboration with Fever, using projection mapping, original music and architectural lighting to transform the cathedral’s Gothic interior into a seven-chapter visual journey.
For museums, heritage venues and cultural destinations, the project highlights the growing role of immersive media in activating historic spaces without permanent alteration. It is another strong example of how cultural institutions can attract new audiences while preserving architectural integrity.


https://www.experienceuk.org/blog/grace-cathedral-hosts-aura-multimedia-experience-combining-projection-mapping-and-architecture

17/03/2026

Kinetic art and robotics are increasingly shaping how museums and exhibitions communicate complex ideas.

The installation No Bird by South Korean duo UJOO+LIMHEEYOUNG uses a robotic system to create and erase footprints in sand, forming a continuous loop that explores memory, repetition and human behaviour.

For curators and experience designers, the project highlights how kinetic technology and sensor-driven interaction can transform abstract concepts into tangible, physical storytelling.

As museums look to deepen engagement, installations like this demonstrate the value of combining engineering, narrative and responsive environments.

South Korean artists UJOO+LIMHEEYOUNG present a robotic bird installation that continuously creates and erases footprints as commentary on memory and human behaviour.