Inbound tourist numbers and spending fell in Q3 2018

Inbound tourist visits saw a year-on-year fall of 3% from July to September 2018, while spending sunk by 15% to £7.2b, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has reported.

Figures showed that 10.8 million people visited the UK during the period, down from 11.1 million the previous year. But, the ONS highlighted that 2017 had seen the highest number of visitors ever recorded in Q3, adding that the 2018 figure was still higher than that seen in 2016 and 2015.

The fall in spending was more pronounced at 6% lower than that seen in 2016 and broadly in line with that seen in 2015.

The weakening of the pound following the Brexit vote had delivered a boost to tourism, but the latest ONS stats suggest that this may be beginning to wane.

A breakdown of the figures showed that visitors from Europe fell by 3% and those from countries outside Europe and North America by 9%; but this was partially offset by a 9% increase in visitors from North America.

The number of people visiting the UK for a holiday increased by 1%, those travelling for business increased by 6%, while those coming to see friends and family fell by 11%.