Fewer Brits went abroad in August
The number of Brits going abroad dropped in August, although they spent slightly more.
According to the latest ONS figures, UK residents made 8.9 million visits abroad in August 2017, 3% fewer than August 2016.
But they spent £6.2 billion on their visits abroad, 1% more than the previous year.
During the period June to August 2017, the number of visits abroad were up 1%, and spend was up 5%.
The largest increase (12%) was in visits to countries that joined the European Union from January 2004 onwards, including the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Poland.
When looking at reasons for going abroad, business visits increased by 4%, holiday visits grew by 1% and visits to friends and relatives increased by 3%.
Meanwhile, the estimated number of visits to the UK by overseas residents in August was 3.9 million, 5% more than August 2016.
Overseas residents spent £2.8 billion in the UK in August 2017, a rise of 3% year-on-year.
From June to August there were 11.5 million visits to the UK, 6% more than the same period a year earlier. Holiday visits rose by 13% to 5.2 million.
Spending in the UK by overseas residents increased 4% on the previous year to £7.8 billion.
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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