UK Publishing boosts the UK’s international reputation 

NewsPress Release
10 Mar 2025

As publishers, authors and book lovers gather in London this week for The London Book Fair (11-13 March) new research from the Publishers Association shows that UK books, journals and education resources are at the heart of the UK’s soft power, playing a key role in attracting tourism, students and contributing to the UK’s cultural and academic collaboration around the globe.  

UK publishing is one of the country’s biggest success stories, with 80% of international adults surveyed agreeing that British literature positively contributes towards the country’s international reputation. This was higher than music (73%), sports and athletics (72%), or business and economic influence (57%). 

Other key findings from the study, conducted by Public First, include: 

Publishing’s impact on the UK’s international reputation:  

  • 80% of international adults surveyed agreed that British academic research positively contributes to towards the country’s international reputation. 
  • Almost two thirds (63%) of international adults who participated in the survey believe that the UK would not have the international influence it does today without the impact of British literature.   
  • 82% of the international adults in our study placed the UK among the top 5 most influential countries globally for academic research. 
  • 68% of the international students we surveyed reported that the global reputation of UK-based academic publications was an important factor for their decision to study in the UK. 

Publishing’s impact on the UK tourism:  

  • The total value of UK literary tourism (domestic and overseas) is forecast to rise from £1.7 billion in 2024 to £2.1 billion by 2030 – almost a 25% increase. 
  • 54% of international adults in the study have been inspired to visit UK locations, such as landmarks, towns, or cities, because of their connection to a work of British literature. 

Dan Conway, CEO of the Publishers Association, said:  

“On the eve of The London Book Fair we’re about to welcome the publishing community from all over the world to London. UK publishing is a global powerhouse and is instrumental in supporting a positive image of the UK internationally by bringing about cultural and academic collaboration. This new polling shows how important the publishing industry is to the UK’s overall attractiveness to international talent and tourism and why the industry is one of our great strengths as a nation.” 

Methodology 

    Public First polled 2,009 adults in the UK for the Publishers Association, online between 7th – 13th February 2025. Public First also polled 680 ‘international adults’, defined as foreign-born UK residents who moved permanently to the country after the age of 18, online between 7th – 27th February 2025.  

    All results are weighted using Iterative Proportional Fitting, or ‘Raking’. The results are  weighted by interlocking age & gender, region and social grade to Nationally Representative Proportions. Public First is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules.