Overseas travel and tourism

24 September 2010
Overseas travel and tourism

The amount spent by overseas visitors to the UK rose by 15.9% during July 2010 to £1.96b, compared with £1.69b during the same month of 2009, according to the Government's latest Overseas Travel and Tourism figures.

The number of overseas visits to the UK increased by 4.9% to 3.24 million during this period, compared with 3.1 million in July 2010.

The growth stemmed from a 6.4% increase in visitors from Europe, with numbers from North America and other countries rising by 3.8% and 0.5% respectively.

The Overseas Travel and Tourism figures are published each month and quarter by the government's National Statistics Office.

They are based on the International Passenger Survey, a random sample of more than 250,000 interviews carried out each year with passengers entering or leaving the UK through the main airports, seaports and the Channel Tunnel. These interviews represent one in every 500 passengers.

The figures below are not seasonally adjusted. Annual performance is presented in the tables at the bottom of the monthly figures.

See also UKinbound's monthly Business Barometer for inbound visitor numbers and forward bookings >>

JULY20102009% change
Total overseas visits to the UK 3,240,000 3,088,000 +4.9%
- Europe 2,220,000 2,087,000 +6.4%
- North America 470,000 453,000 +3.8%
- Other 550,000 547,000 +0.5%
UK tourists' trips abroad 5,750,000 5,843,000 -1.6%
Overseas earnings in the UK £1.96b £1.69b +15.9%
UK residents' spend overseas £3.27b £3.28b -0.3%
Tourism trade balance -£1.31b -£1.59b -
JUNE20102009% change
Total overseas visits to the UK 2,640,000 2,764,000 -4.5%
- Europe 1,890,000 1,955,000 -3.3%
- North America 350,000 369,000 -5.1%
- Other 400,000 439,000 -8.9%
UK tourists' trips abroad 5,550,000 5,707,000 -2.2%
Overseas earnings in the UK £1.62b £1.54b +5.2%
UK residents' spend overseas £3.07b £2.89b +6.2%
Tourism trade balance -£1.46b -£1.34b -
MAY20102009% change
Total overseas visits to the UK 2,780,000 2,577,000 +7.9%
- Europe 2,120,000 1,923,000 +10.2%
- North America 330,000 316,000 +4.4%
- Other 340,000 338,000 +0.6%
UK tourists' trips abroad 4,610,000 5,090,000 -9.4%
Overseas earnings in the UK £1.64b £1.27b +29.1%
UK residents' spend overseas £2.49b £2.58b -3.5%
Tourism trade balance -£855m -£1.31b -
APRIL20102009% change
Total overseas visits to the UK 2,310,000 2,604,000 +11.3%
- Europe 1,840,000 2,038,000 -9.7%
- North America 210,000 303,000 +30.7%
- Other 250,000 262,000 -4.6%
UK tourists' trips abroad 4,290,000 5,165,000 -16.9%
Overseas earnings in the UK £1.08b £1.28b -15.6%
UK residents' spend overseas £2.46b £2.55b -3.5%
Tourism trade balance -£1.38b -£1.27b -
MARCH20102009% change
Total overseas visits to the UK 2,150,000 2,315,000 -7%
- Europe 1,710,000 1,854,000 -7.8%
- North America 220,000 235,000 -6.4%
- Other 220,000 226,000 -2.7%
UK tourists' trips abroad 3,610,000 3,928,000 -8.1%
Overseas earnings in the UK £955m £1.2b -20.2%
UK residents' spend overseas £2.24b £2.32b -3.4%
Tourism trade balance -£1.25b -£1.13b -
FEBRUARY20102009% change
Total overseas visits to the UK 1,800,000 1,775,000 +1.4%
- Europe 1,440,000 1,448,000 -0.6%
- North America 150,000 152,000 -1.3%
- Other 210,000 175,000 +20%
UK tourists' trips abroad 3,200,000 3,460,000 -7.5%
Overseas earnings in the UK £925m £843m +9.7%
UK residents' spend overseas £1.88b £2.18b -13.8%
Tourism trade balance -£955m -£1.34b -
JANUARY20102009% change
Total overseas visits to the UK 2,180,000 2,107,000 +3.5%
- Europe 1,640,000 1,539,000 +6.6%
- North America 220,000 223,000 -1.4%
- Other 320,000 345,000 -7.3%
UK tourists' trips abroad 3,430,000 3,907,000 -12.2%
Overseas earnings in the UK £1.06b £1.15b -7.8%
UK residents' spend overseas £2.03b £2.27b -10.6%
Tourism trade balance -£970m -£1.13b -
DECEMBER20092008% change
Total overseas visits to the UK 2,201,000 2,091,000 +5.3%
- Europe 1,720,000 1,657,000 +3.8%
- North America 203,000 179,000 +13.4%
- Other 279,000 255,000 +9.4%
UK tourists' trips abroad 3,061,000 3,688,000 -17%
Overseas earnings in the UK £1.29b £1.14b +13.2%
UK residents' spend overseas £1.63b £1.93b -15.5%
Tourism trade balance -£332m -£795m -
NOVEMBER20092008% change
Total overseas visits to the UK 2,209,000 2,178,000 +1.4%
- Europe 1,748,000 1,741,000 +0.4%
- North America 212,000 193,000 +9.8%
- Other 249,000 243,000 +2.5%
UK tourists' trips abroad 3,557,000 4,132,000 -13.9%
Overseas earnings in the UK £1.165b £1.17b -0.4%
UK residents' spend overseas £1.83b £2.13b -14.1%
Tourism trade balance -£667m -£959m -
OCTOBER20092008% change
Total overseas visits to the UK 2,450,000 2,661,000 -7.9%
- Europe 1,810,000 1,986,000 -8.9%
- North America 290,000 286,000 +1.4%
- Other 350,000 389,000 -10%
UK tourists' trips abroad 5,070,000 5,813,000 -12.8%
Overseas earnings in the UK £1.36b £1.46b -6.8%
UK residents' spend overseas £2.53b £2.91b -13%
Tourism trade balance -£1.17b -£1.45b -
SEPTEMBER20092008% change
Total overseas visits to the UK 2,580,000 2,576,000 +0.2%
- Europe 1,830,000 1,852,000 -1.2%
- North America 320,000 300,000 +6.7%
- Other 430,000 423,000 +1.7%
UK tourists' trips abroad 6,450,000 7,058,000 -8.6%
Overseas earnings in the UK £1.59b £1.49b +6.7%
UK residents' spend overseas £3.33b £4.03b -17.4%
Tourism trade balance -£1.74b -£2.54b -
AUGUST20092008% change
Total overseas visits to the UK 3,160,000 3,426,000 -7.8%
- Europe 2,130,000 2,518,000 -15.4%
- North America 460,000 376,000 +22.3%
- Other 570,000 532,000 +7.1%
UK tourists' trips abroad 7,610,000 8,573,000 -11.2%
Overseas earnings in the UK £2.05b £1.91b +7.3%
UK residents' spend overseas £3.88b £4.95b -21.6%
Tourism trade balance -£1.83b -£3.04b -

ANNUAL TOURISM AND TRAVEL FIGURES

YEAR200120022003
Total overseas visits to the UK 22,835,000](http://www.starbucks.com/) 24,180,000 24,715,000
- Europe 14,115,000[](http://www.whitbread.co.uk/) 15,439,000 17,207,000
- North America 4,228,000[](http://www.caffenero.com/) 4,272,000 3,997,000
- Other 4,469,000[](http://www.marksandspencer.com/) 4,493,000 3.511,000
UK tourists' trips abroad 58,281,000 59,377,000 61,424,000
Overseas earnings in the UK £11.3b*[](http://www.bbscoffeeandmuffins.com/)* £11.74b £11.86b
UK residents' spend overseas £25.3b[](http://www.nestle.co.uk/Home) £26.96b £28.55b
Tourism trade balance -£14.03b -£15.23b -£16.69b
YEAR200420052006
Total overseas visits to the UK 27,755,000[](http://www.starbucks.com/) 29,970,000 32,713,000
- Europe 19,424,000[](http://www.whitbread.co.uk/) 21,565,000 23,377,000
- North America 4,356,000 4,234,000 4,764,000
- Other 3,975,000[](http://www.marksandspencer.com/) 4,171,000 4,572,000
UK tourists' trips abroad 64,194,000 66,441,000 69,536,000
Overseas earnings in the UK £13.05b*[](http://www.bbscoffeeandmuffins.com/)* £14.25b £16b
UK residents' spend overseas £30.29b[](http://www.nestle.co.uk/Home) £32.15b £34.41b
Tourism trade balance -£17.24b -£17.91b -£18.41b
YEAR200720082009
Total overseas visits to the UK 32,7778,000 31,888,000 29,716,000
- Europe 23,887,000 23,666,000 22,016,000
- North America 4,403,000 3,806,000 3,511,000
- Other 4,488,000[ 4,416,000 4,189,000
UK tourists' trips abroad 69,450,000 69,011,000 58,433,000
Overseas earnings in the UK £15.9 £16.3b £16.5b
UK residents' spend overseas £35b £36.8b £31.8b
Tourism trade balance -£19.1b -£20.5b -£15.3b
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