UK is proving to be a big lure for foreign tourists
Britain welcomed a growing number of tourists from abroad in the first seven months of 2014, according to figures released yesterday.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) released data that revealed that the number of overseas residents visiting the UK in that period increased by five per cent compared with the same quarter last year.
This ONS said this was most likely due to the fact that over the past 12 months – where there had been an increase of seven per cent on the previous year – estimates of earnings of overseas residents visiting the UK were up by three per cent and were still on the rise.
Visits from Europe were up by nine per cent, and business trips were up by five per cent, and trips to friends and relatives rose by nine per cent.
The fact that more and more people are taking trips to visit family and friends could also be the cause of why more people come to the UK as total costs for the holiday, whether for business or pleasure, are significantly lower when you can rule out the cost of hotels and services such as taxis.
The report also revealed that the number of UK residents visiting abroad had increased by four per cent over the past 12 months with an eight per cent rise in the proportion visiting friends and relatives.