Britain receives more visitors than ever before

By  Soo Kim

A whopping 16.4 million international visitors arrived between January and June this year, an eight per cent increase on the same period last year, according to the latest figures released by the Office of National Statistics (ONS). 

The month of June saw a record 3.18 million visitors, a 10 per cent increase on the same month last year. 

Britain saw 11.38 million visitors from countries in the European Union and 1.1 million from non-EU countries in Europe, while 1.57 million visited from North America and 2.28 million visited from the rest of the world. 

In the other direction, the total number of trips abroad by UK residents also rose by four per cent to 27.14 million in the first half of this year. The number rose by five per cent in the 12 months to June 2014, with the number of trips taken as holidays increasing by four per cent in that period compared to a year earlier. 

Visits to North America increased the most, by six per cent, followed by a five per cent rise in trips to countries outside Europe and North America, and a four per cent increase in visits to Europe. 

Three per cent less visits abroad were made by Britons in June alone, compared to June 2013. 

Earlier this week, figures from the World Tourism Organisation showed Britain to be the eighth most visited country in the world, having welcomed a total of 31.2 million visitors last year, while France took the top slot with 84.7 million visitors in 2013. 

The ONS report also revealed a record £1.97 billion in spending by visitors to Britain in June, a four per cent increase on June of last year, while spending by Britons travelling abroad dropped by six per cent between April and June this year compared to last year. 

The latest figures were welcomed by the UK tourism minister, Helen Grant, who said the "fantastic” figures showed “the government's tourism strategy is working - creating more jobs, encouraging greater spend and growing the economy". 

"Tourism is an essential part of the wider success of our economy and these first six months have set us up for what could be another record year for inbound tourism,” said David Edwards, head of research and forecasting at VisitBritain, the country's tourist organisation. 

"It's also hugely positive to see growth both from our high volume European markets and also emerging markets across Asia and Latin America," he added. Telegraph