Travel & Tourism
No recovery in visits to and from the UK
Overseas residents' visits to the UK and UK residents' visits abroad
There was no increase in the number of visits to and from the UK in the three months September to November 2009.
The seasonally adjusted number of visits to the UK by overseas residents fell by 4 per cent compared with the previous three months, while the non-seasonally adjusted number of visits was 9 per cent lower for the 12 months to November compared with a year earlier.
The seasonally adjusted number of visits abroad by UK residents remained broadly the same in September to November when compared with the previous three months, while the non-seasonally adjusted number of visits for the 12 months to November 2009 was down by 15 per cent when compared with a year earlier.
Although overall the number of visits has fallen, two measures have shown more positive signs. Holiday visits to the UK were 8 per cent higher in the months September to November 2009 compared with a year earlier, and visits from North America were 6 per cent higher.
Quarterly trends
During September to November 2009, the seasonally adjusted number of visits by overseas residents to the UK decreased by 4 per cent to 7.2 million when compared with the previous three months. Associated spending by overseas residents on visits to the UK decreased by 2 per cent to £4.1 billion.
Over the same period, the seasonally adjusted number of visits abroad by UK residents remained broadly the same at 14.3 million, while the associated spending decreased by 1 per cent to £7.8 billion.
Year-on-year trends
Visits to the UK by overseas residents
During the 12 months to November 2009, the number of visits by overseas residents to the UK, not seasonally adjusted, decreased by 9 per cent when compared with the 12 months to November 2008, from 32.3 million to 29.5 million – a drop of 2.8 million.
Visits to the UK by residents of:
Europe decreased by 9 per cent from 24.0 million to 21.8 million
North America decreased by 10 per cent from 3.9 million to 3.5 million, and
other parts of the world decreased by 7 per cent from 4.5 million to 4.2 million
Visits abroad by UK residents
In the 12-month period to November 2009, the number of visits abroad by UK residents, not seasonally adjusted, decreased by 15 per cent when compared with the 12 months to November 2008, from 69.5 to 59.1 million – a drop of 10.3 million.
Visits by UK residents to:
Europe decreased by 15 per cent from 54.8 million to 46.5 million
North America decreased by 20 per cent from 4.7 million to 3.7 million, and
other parts of the world decreased by 11 per cent from 10.0 million to 8.9 million
Notes: Provisional statistics are published on 14 January in the Overseas Travel and Tourism Statistical Bulletin.
Figures showing three-month changes are seasonally adjusted. Figures showing 12-month changes are not seasonally adjusted.
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