British Prime Minister Theresa May announces £40mn fund to boost post-Brexit UK tourism

British Prime Minister Theresa May speaks during a press conference on July 28, 2016. (AFP photo)

British Prime Minister Theresa May has announced the allocation of a 40-million-pound fund for tourism projects across the country, pledging a boost in the UK's tourism industry after Brexit.

"Towns and cities from across England will benefit from a £40 million fund to deliver new tourism outside London and ease travel around Britain, helping visitors from abroad as well as Brits holidaying at home to explore the wealth of tourism opportunities across the country," Britain’s Premier said in a statement on Friday.

“The British people’s decision to leave the European Union creates real opportunities for growth and we will work in close partnership with the tourism industry, to ensure it continues to thrive as negotiations on the UK’s exit progress,” she added.

British Prime Minister Theresa May (L) walks in a forest with her husband at the start of a summer holiday in the Alps in Switzerland on August 12, 2016. (AFP photo)

The comments were made as two thirds of the visitors to the UK come from European countries and hopes are that tourism industry in Britain could benefit from a weaker pound following the Leave vote.

“We are making it easier for visitors to travel beyond London and experience all of the world-class attractions the UK has to offer, to make sure the benefits of this thriving industry are felt by the many and not the few,” May noted.

“We will make sure Britain is even more attractive, accessible and welcoming to visitors,” she concluded.

In the June 23 referendum, about 52 percent of British voters opted to leave the EU, while roughly 48 percent of the people voted to stay in the union. More than 17.4 million Britons said the country should leave the bloc just over 16.14 million others favored remaining in the EU.

The vote result caused political turmoil in Britain and sent economic shock waves through the country as well as global financial markets. 

After the Brexit vote, the pound fell to its lowest level in 31 years, around $1.3120, its lowest level since mid-1985. Nearly $3 trillion was also wiped off the value of world stocks.

Meanwhile, the number of alleged race hate offenses in the fortnight following the Leave vote increased by 57 percent compared with the two weeks prior to the vote. Moreover, it represented a 78 percent hike on the equivalent period last year.

According to statistics by Metropolitan Police, Muslims in London faced a 70-percent increase in Islamophobic attacks in one year.