Fall in business visits to the UK in 2009

There was a substantial decrease in business visits both to the UK and abroad in 2009 compared to figures from the previous year, according to figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

Business visits were hit hard in 2009, down 20 per cent to the UK and 22 per cent abroad. During the 12 months to December 2009, the total number of visits by overseas residents to the UK fell by 7 per cent (not seasonally adjusted) compared with a year earlier, and those abroad by UK residents fell by 15 per cent.

Holiday visits abroad by UK residents dropped 16 per cent, but those to the UK by overseas residents bucked the general trend, growing 3 per cent. Visits to friends and relatives also decreased over the year by 10 per cent, to the UK by overseas visitors, and UK residents visiting abroad by 7 per cent.

Quarterly trends

The three months October to December 2009 saw a fall of 6 per cent in the seasonally adjusted number of visits abroad by UK residents, with the associated spending decreasing by 5 per cent.

However, the seasonally adjusted number of visits to the UK by overseas residents remained broadly the same as in the previous three months, with the associated spending decreasing by 3 per cent.

Year-on-year trends

Visits to the UK by overseas residents

During the 12 months to December 2009, the number of visits by overseas residents to the UK decreased by 7 per cent when compared with the 12 months to December 2008, from 31.9 million rop of 2.3 million.Visits abroad by UK residents

In the 12 month period to December 2009, the number of visits abroad by UK residents decreased by 15 per cent when compared News release: Fall in business visits to the UK in 2009 with the 12 months to December 2008, from 69.0 to 58.5 million - a drop of 10.5 million.