Jump in tourist numbers to the UK, and they’re spending more
The amount of money spent by international travellers to the UK rose by 9.4 per cent during the first quarter of the year, according to official figures released yesterday.
Visits to the UK by people living abroad rose by 11.7 per cent in comparison to the first three months of 2013.
Although there was a similar increase in the number of trips overseas taken by UK residents, a boost of 8.7 per cent, Britons were more tight with their purse strings. Expenditure abroad on the 11.1m trips overseas by UK residents actually dropped by 5.4 per cent in the same year-long period, declining to £5.7bn.
Earnings from international travellers to the UK came in at £3.9bn for the year.
Holiday visits to Britain contributed the largest part of the increase in travel, rising by 16.4 per cent in the same 12-month period.