Overseas visitor numbers on rise
The number of overseas visitors to the UK has continued to pick up, with a rise of more than 4% in the three months to 30 June, compared with the same period last year.
The second quarter saw 6.5 million visitors, compared with 6.28 million last year, when the nation was in the grip of the foot-and-mouth crisis.
But the latest figures are still below those of the second quarter of 2000, when 6.7 million people visited the UK, suggesting that 11 September is still affecting the tourist industry.
The figures, from the latest International Passenger Survey from the Office for National Statistics, show the number of UK residents travelling abroad also increased by 4% to 16.3 million.
Spending by overseas visitors to the UK was up by 4% to £2.9b, compared with £2.8b in 2001, but down from £3.3b in 2000.
In June alone, overseas visitors to the UK increased by 3% to 2.3 million, while spending in the UK by overseas visitors rose by 2% to £1.13b.
The British Tourist Authority said the figures were in line with its forecasts for 2002. It added: "Traffic from Europe continues to be buoyant, helped by the fast-growing network of low-cost airlines."