April sets records for inbound UK tourism
April was a record month for inbound UK tourism in terms of both number of overseas visits and spend.
VisitBritain figures show 3.7 million visits were made to the UK, up 19% compared to last April and the highest April since records began.
Overseas visitors spent a record £2 billion in April, 20% up on last year.
VisitBritain director Patricia Yates said: "Tourism is one of Britain’s most valuable export industries and it is very encouraging to see this continued growth as we head into the peak summer season and beyond.
"We continue to drive home the message of value and welcome globally, particularly in our high spending markets China and the US and the valuable European market."
The number of inbound visits to the UK for January to April this year has reached a record 11.8 million, 11% up on the same period in 2016.
Visitors spent £6.2 billion, up 14% and also a new record.
VisitBritain said visits from long-haul regions have fuelled growth. Visits from north America, for example, are up 16% to more than one million.
There were also a record 8.3 million visits from the EU, up 7% on 2016.
Holiday visits reached a record 4.4 million visits from January to April, up 26% on 2016.
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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