Destination GB

Record numbers of international visitors flocked to the UK last year. Pic: VisitEngland / Iain Lewis.

Record numbers of international visitors flocked to the UK last year. Pic: VisitEngland / Iain Lewis.

Destination GB

Record numbers of international tourists are visiting Great Britain and they are spending more too, according to official statistics. The report by the Office of National Statistics shows that in the first nine months of 2016 there were a record-breaking 12.2 million visits to English regions outside London, up 4% compared to the same period in 2015.

Spend by international visitors across England’s regions also set a record during this period, up 2% to £5.9 billion. Wales saw inbound visits increase 12% from January to September last year and in Scotland visitor numbers grew by 4% to 2.2 million - the strongest year to date since 2007.

VisitBritain Chief Executive Sally Balcombe said: “Inbound tourism is one of our largest export industries and it is very encouraging to see that growth is being spread right across our nations and regions, demonstrating the industry’s increasing importance as a driver of economic growth and jobs.”

Summer Tourism Boom

Summer Tourism Boom

July was the highest month ever for inbound tourism with 3.8 million visits. Pic: VisitEngland / Heart of Devon.

July was the highest month ever for inbound tourism with 3.8 million visits. Pic: VisitEngland / Heart of Devon.

This summer was a record-breaking season for the UK’s tourism industry, with more international tourists visiting the country than ever before, leading to a higher than average level of spending.

Figures released by the Office of National Statistics show that July was the highest month ever for inbound tourism with 3.8 million visits, up two per cent on July last year.

August also saw the highest number of day trips taken in any month since 2012, with 151 million day trips across England, up a staggering 14 per cent on August 2015. This in turn led to an increase in visitor spending of nine per cent.

VisitEngland Chief Executive Sally Balcombe said: “It is fantastic to see that more of us are getting out and experiencing the huge range of quality destinations and tourism products on offer right across the country. England is packed full of incredible experiences that you can only get here and we look forward to continuing to work with the tourism industry to develop England’s competitive tourism offer, get more people out exploring the country and drive growth across all the regions.”

UK Tourism Set To Soar This Year

UK Tourism Set To Soar This Year

Figures show that the first three months of the year set a record for inbound visits to the UK. Pic: VisitBritain.

 Pic: VisitBritain

This year is shaping up to be a record-breaking year for tourism if the latest statistics from the Office of National Statistics are anything to go by.

Figures show that the first three months of the year set a record for inbound visits to the UK, up by six per cent on the same period last year.

More than 7.36 million people visited UK between January and March, with visitors spending £3.64 billion.

Tourism Minister David Evennett said: “Our tourism industry is booming as our world-class attractions, heritage and culture make Britain the first choice destination for many, with visit numbers at an all-time high.

“Tourism is making a massive contribution to our economy and we want to keep up this momentum, encouraging more people to come and enjoy the very best of Britain for themselves.”

Comparing growth during the last five years shows that there were six million more visits in 2015 than 2010, an increase of more than 20 per cent.