About Us
VisitBritain Background
VisitBritain is the national tourism agency, responsible for marketing Britain worldwide and developing Britain's visitor economy. Our mission is to build the value of tourism to Britain. We have a global footprint, thanks to our strong digital presence, and market Britain in 21 countries.
Our current focus is the design and delivery of an ambitious overseas marketing campaign - the GREAT Britain campaign - to attract visitors to the UK over the four years from 2011-2015.
We also act as an advisor to Government and industry on tourism, particularly on issues which affect the UK's international competitiveness, providing market intelligence and customer insights.
We are a government agency operating at arm's length with a private sector Chairman and a Board, funded by the Department for Culture Media and Sport.
VisitBritain Images
A non-commercial picture and film lending library designed to support British tourism was first launched in 1929 as part of the Travel and Industrial Development Association (TIDA) and soon became the British Travel Association after the war.
When the British Tourist Authority was created by statute, it launched its picture library as Britain on View in 1969. The British Tourist Authority now VisitBritain launched two online image libraries in 2009.
VisitBritainimages.com is the online resource of contemporary and archive assets available for non-commercial tourism related purposes. Britain on View is the commercial collection of contemporary and archive assets represented as a brand at www.gettyimages.com/Britainonview.
Third party photographers and collections are also represented under the Britain on View brand.
VisitBritain Footage
VisitBritain is proud to own archive footage of the Travel and Industrial Development Association (TIDA) - a collection of informative and entertaining documentary tourism films of Britain produced by Marion Grierson, some silent and some with sound.
Following the war, the British Travel Association was formed and tourism films were commissioned to help the promotion of Britain worldwide.
The collection is a fascinating view of Britain over the last 90 years and VisitBritain have made an initial collection of over 2,000 clips available online. Contemporary footage highlighting Britain is also available online.
Submit your imagery to VisitBritain Images
If you have noticed gaps in our collection or would like to extend promotions of your property, destination or attraction and have the necessary rights in place to distribute them for non-commercial tourism related purposes, VisitBritain would like to hear from you. We accept still and moving imagery. To find out how to submit to VisitBritain Images contact Jasmine.teer@visitbritain.org
VisitBritain Shoot Management
Over the last decade, VisitBritain has commissioned hundreds of photo shoots and has worked with strategic partners, accommodation providers, attractions, and destinations throughout the UK to build a specialist collection of high quality marketing imagery.
With over 50,000 images showcased online and a further 500,000 archived transparencies, we pride ourselves on having one of the most unique photographic collections covering Britain and British life.
We continue to refresh our collection annually as well as offer our skills and knowledge to any tourism related businesses whose aim is to create high quality promotional imagery.
VisitBritain offers a full shoot management service from initial concept through to post production. This service includes a dedicated Photographic Manager or Art Director who will oversee the entire shoot and arrange photographers, models and necessary contracts as well as provide professional art direction to ensure high quality shoots are delivered on time and within budget.
For further information contact Jasmine.teer@visitbritain.org
