Record June for overseas visits to the UK

The UK saw a record number of overseas visitors during June, with 3.5 million tourists coming to the country, an increase of seven per cent on the same period in 2016.

Overseas visitors spent £2.2 billion in June 2017, up two per cent compared to the same month last year. There was strong growth from North America in June with 650,000 visits, up 35 per cent on June 2016.

The figures brings the overall number of overseas visits to the UK for January to June to a record-breaking 19.1 million and up nine per cent compared to the same period in 2016. Overseas visitors spent a record £10.6 billion, up 11 per cent on 2016.

Patricia Yates, director of VisitBritain, said: “Tourism is one of Britain’s most valuable export industries and this continued growth demonstrates the industry’s increasing importance as a key driver of economic growth across our nations and regions.

Global competition

“The tourism industry is making a compelling case to be one of the industries included in the government’s industrial strategy to ensure Britain continues to compete globally. We have already revised our forecast upwards for 2017.”

Latest flight booking data from ForwardKeys shows that bookings for international arrivals to the UK from August to October are up 9 per cent on the same period last year. Considering specific markets, bookings from China are up 20 per cent and the US up 23 per cent.

VisitBritain is promoting Britain internationally thought its global #OMGB (Oh My GREAT Britain) ‘Home of Amazing Moments’ marketing campaign to showcase experiences that visitors can only have in the country.

Last year saw a new records for inbound tourism to Britain, with 37.6 million visits, up four per cent on 2015, with visitors spending £22.5 billion, an increase of two per cent.