Trips to UK still falling as foreign visitors stay away

The latest figures from the International Passenger Survey, released last week, show a continuation of the fall in visits and spending by overseas visitors to the UK.

According to Government figures, in the three months to 30 November 2001 the number of overseas visitors to the UK fell by 2% to 5.7 million, with overseas earnings falling by 5% to £2.6b.

During November, the number of overseas visitors dropped by 34% to two million compared with 2000.

In 2001 there was a 7% fall in visits by overseas residents compared with 2000. This included a 5% fall among visits from Western Europe, an 11% drop from North America, and a 7% fall from the rest of the world. Spending was down by 14%.

In contrast to the continuing fall in overseas visitor numbers, the number of visits abroad by UK residents has continued to increase. In 2001 there was a 4% increase in visits abroad compared with 2000. Visits outside Western Europe and North America showed the greatest increase, at 6%. Spending by UK visitors abroad in the first 11 months of 2001 also increased by 6%.