Visits to the UK down 5 per cent

Visits to the UK by overseas residents decreased by 5 per cent during April to June 2008, according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

During April to June, the seasonally-adjusted number of visits to the UK by overseas residents decreased to 8.1 million from 8.5 million over the previous three months. Associated earnings from overseas residents on visits to the UK remained broadly the same at £4.1 billion.

Over the same period, the seasonally-adjusted number of visits abroad by UK residents decreased by 1 per cent to 17.7 million, while the associated spending decreased by 2 per cent to £9.1 billion.

Year-on-year trends are as follows:

During the 12 months to June 2008, the number of visits by overseas residents to the UK, not seasonally adjusted, decreased by 3 per cent when compared with the 12 months to June 2007, from 33.5 million to 32.5 million.

Visits from residents of Europe decreased by 2 per cent to 23.6 million, from North America decreased by 8 per cent to 4.3 million, and visits from other parts of the world decreased by 1 per cent to 4.6 million.

In the 12-month period to June 2008, the number of visits abroad by UK residents, not seasonally adjusted, increased by 1 per cent compared with the 12 months to June 2007, from 69.8 million to 70.6 million. Visits to Europe increased by 1 per cent to 55.7 million, to North America remained broadly the same at 4.7 million, and visits to other parts of the world rose by 3 per cent to 10.2 million.