Is Tourism Increasing in the UK?

By Robert Palmer

Tourism is a major industry in the United Kingdom, attracting millions of visitors each year. With its rich history, stunning landscapes, and vibrant cities, it’s no surprise that people from all over the world choose to visit the UK.

But is tourism increasing in the UK? Let’s take a closer look.

Overall Tourism Numbers

According to VisitBritain, the official tourism website for the UK, there were 39.2 million visits to the UK in 2017. This represents a 4% increase from 2016. In terms of spending, visitors spent £24.5 billion in 2017, which is a 9% increase from the previous year.

Inbound Tourism

Inbound tourism refers to visitors coming into the UK from other countries. According to VisitBritain, there were 31.2 million inbound visits in 2017, which is a 4% increase from the previous year. The top five countries that visitors came from were:

  • United States
  • France
  • Germany
  • Spain
  • Italy

These countries accounted for more than half of all inbound visits to the UK.

Domestic Tourism

Domestic tourism refers to UK residents traveling within their own country for leisure or business purposes. According to VisitEngland, there were 124 million domestic overnight trips taken in England in 2017. This represents a 2% increase from the previous year.

Tourism Employment

The tourism industry is also important for employment in the UK. According to VisitBritain, there were approximately 3.1 million jobs supported by tourism in the UK in 2017.

Conclusion

Overall, it appears that tourism is increasing in the UK. With more people visiting from abroad and more UK residents taking domestic trips, the tourism industry is thriving. This is good news for the economy and for those employed in the industry.

References:

  1. VisitBritain – 2017 Tourism Factsheet
  2. VisitEngland – Insight and Statistics