Britain has an abundance of countryside and thousands of miles of coastline, and both play host to millions of visits from overseas each year. The environment in general has an important role to play in tourism — as does tourism in the environment. We have research on both sustainability and visits that include time in the great outdoors.

Chapter 6 of our Market Profiles looks at visitors' perceptions of Britain's natural beauty, and chapter 9 shows their propensity to visit coast, countryside and villages while in Britain. Take a look at the Indian Market Profile for an example of this.

For more information on sustainability and tourism in Britain, the Tourism Affairs section of our website can help. To search for information relating to different topics and markets, you can also use our Market Intelligence Report Search (www.visitbritain.org/insightsandstatistics/resourcesearch/index.aspx).

• Activities Data 2011
  Find out how many visitors from overseas undertook particular activities in 2011, including going to the countryside or coast.

• Regional visitor profile & activities report
  Our flagship report on inbound tourism to Britain’s nations and regions covers the profile of international visitors in different areas of Britain and the activities they do there. It includes details on where in Britain overseas visitors are most likely to visit countryside, villages, national parks or coast as well as where they are most likely to go walking in the countryside or along the coast.

• Foresight issue 93
  The July 2011 edition of Foresight put the spotlight on overseas visitors who go for a walk along the coast when in Britain, including the top source markets for doing so.

• Foresight issue 85
  The November 2010 edition of Foresight explored visits from overseas that include time in Britain's countryside and villages.

• Foresight issue 84
  The October 2010 edition of Foresight shared data and analysis on inbound visitors who spend time visiting a garden while in Britain. 

• A sustainable future for tourism
  The issue of sustainability was given consideration when producing the British Tourism Framework Review, highlighting the many dimensions to the subject above and beyond those relating to 'environmental issues'.

• Foresight issue 51
  The January 2008 edition of Foresight considered facts, figures and perceptions relating to Britain's weather.

• Foresight issue 47
  The September 2007 edition of Foresight took its second look at climate change and what it might mean for UK tourism

• Foresight issue 44 
  The June 2007 edition of Foresight explored the role that nature and wildlife plays in UK tourism

• Foresight issue 33
  The July 2006 edition of Foresight investigated whether wind farms are good or bad for tourism

• Foresight issue 11
  The September 2004 edition of Foresight explored the challenges and opportunities that climate change might bring to UK tourism.