As Britain turns attention to hosting the largest spectacle on earth this summer, VisitBritain has today reported that 30.6 million overseas visitors came to the UK in 2011, a three per cent rise in overseas arrivals from 2010. The year sees a record number of holiday visitors and a record year in visitor spending.
With December’s arrival figures up two per cent, 2011 finished on a high and show that it was a year of positive gains for British tourism, with an overall increase of 800,000 visitors across the year.
Visitors spent a record £17.8 billion, up five per cent on 2010 and pointing towards an average spend of £580 per visit and an increase of two per cent on the previous record. The increase in spend has been helped along by the pound being more favourable than it has been for many years, with exchange rates giving visitors excellent value for money.
2011 also saw a record number of holiday visits, with just under 12 million overseas residents choosing to come to Britain for a holiday and strengthening gains made in this market over the last few years. Growth in holiday arrivals across the year was particularly strong in the first three quarters of the year from countries that included Australia, USA, Italy, the Netherlands and Brazil.
Looking at where other positive gains have been made throughout 2011, it is evident that emerging markets such as Brazil (up 51%), Russia (20%) and China (32%) have been helping to drive the visitor growth. Arrivals from North America have increased four per cent, the highest levels seen since 2008. European markets have largely remained the same from 2010, with just a one per cent increase over the year.
These figures have meant Britain’s tourism balance of payments deficit decreased by the equivalent of £1.6 billion, down 11% from the previous year.
While 2011 saw record levels of holidays visits, there has also been a welcome improvement in business travel on the previous year with arrivals up six per cent. The current global – and in particular European – economic outlook will likely impact this area over the course of 2012.
Looking at the December IPS figures, which track inbound visits to UK, the national tourism agency said that the end of the 2011 saw 2.1 million arrivals for the month, two per cent higher than for the same period in 2010. The rise was driven by those coming from Europe and those visiting friends and relatives. Spending for the December period was £1.245 billion.
Patricia Yates, VisitBritain Director of Strategy and Communications said: “As we look back on a positive 2011 for both holiday visits and spend, we want to make sure we capitalise on these gains by helping boost jobs across the country and create a lasting tourism legacy for many years to come.
“We have had three straight years of declining arrival figures, so for 2011 to show a return to growth, with 800,000 more overseas visitors coming to Britain than was the case in 2010. These visitors spent almost £18bn while they were here in Britain, which is a 5% increase and a record contribution to the KK economy.
“For the very first time we welcomed around 12 million holiday visitors to the UK and we are encouraged that the along with vital long-term growth markets helping our positive return, that the number of visitors coming to Britain from North America has risen. This is significant as we earn very nearly twice as from US visitors than we do from any other source market.”
