Britain's tourism industry is expected to more than double from £127bn ($204.6bn) in 2013 to £257bn ($414bn) by 2025, according to a new report commissioned by VisitBritain.

A new report published by the tourist board suggests that the UK's tourism industry could make up 10 per cent of UK GDP by 2025, up from nine per cent this year, with this growth creating 175,000 new jobs.

Interestingly, the report also hypothesises what might happen if the UK were to become as successful as its European competitors in attracting visitors from emerging markets such as China, India and Russia.

With further investment to attract these visitors, it is estimated that the value of inbound tourism could rise by an additional £12bn ($19.3bn) by 2025 – over 20 per cent on the base forecast.  

While the UK accounts for less than one per cent of all outbound travellers from China and Russia, and around three per cent of travellers from Brazil and India, visitors from the BRIC nations are already among the highest spenders on hotel rooms.

The latest Hotels.com Hotel Price Index, shows that visitors from Brazil paid £141 ($227) a night on average during the first six months of 2013, while visitors from China paid £134 ($216) a night. Russian visitors paid £125 ($201) when booking rooms at Hotels.com, while travellers from India paid slightly less with a nightly average of £124 ($200).

Alison Couper at Hotels.com said: "[The] predictions show the sheer potential of the UK's tourism industry. Already a crucial part of the economy, there is an enormous opportunity to develop this sector through investment to attract visitors from emerging tourism markets.

"While hoteliers are responding to this trend and making changes to offer these visitors a warmer welcome, such as translated tourist information and a wider selection of food, drinks and TV channels, more must be done if the UK is to compete with other European destinations."