UK fails to take advantageof boom in foreign visitors

Hotels and restaurants could be missing out on valuable overseas trade, despite Britain's growing popularity as a holiday destination.

New research indicates that only half the UK's hotels actively promote their business to overseas visitors.

The Barclays Merchant Services (BMS) survey found that 30% had no member of staff able to speak a second language.

"Foreign visitors to the UK spent a record £12.8b last year. Restaurants, pubs and hotels should beware they don't miss out on the spending spree," said a spokesman.

Two other surveys reveal a 3% year-on-year increase in the number of overseas visitors to the UK during the first quarter, although estimates of actual numbers vary. The British Tourist Authority (BTA) says there were more than five million visits, while the Office for National Statistics'(ONS) International Passenger Survey puts the figure at 6.7 million.

According to the BTA, there was a 15% upswing in the number of American tourists during the quarter, although the number of European visitors remained static.

It estimates that total visitor spend was up 3% year on year to £2.3b.