Foreigners spend record amount in Britain
UK visitor numbers were up just 1% in September but visitor spend rocketed 17% to a record £1.9bn, according to latest figures from the Office of National Statistics.
Overseas visitor spend is now 5% higher than in the first nine months of last year, it said
The ONS estimated that 680,000 visits from overseas in July, August and September were primarily due to the London 2012 Games.
For July to September the average spend by people attending or involved in the Games was £1,350, more than double all other visitors and another record for average spend.
VisitBritain chief executive Sandie Dawe said: "These figures offer us an ideal platform to create a golden tourism legacy going into 2013 and beyond.
"These encouraging numbers mean that visitors are on track to spend more in the UK than we initially forecast – a good result for the economy."
However, Barclays head of hospitality and leisure Mike Saul said the ONS figures revealed fewer people visited Britain over the summer than in 2011.
"While year on year tourist numbers are up, this summer saw fewer visitors head to the UK. Tourists are clearly thinking twice about travelling to our shores – with finances being squeezed, and the Continent seeing record levels of unemployment, many of our traditional European visitors simply cannot afford it.
"However, as the festive season gets underway the draw of the Capital’s bright lights may yet see tourist numbers recover.
"On the home front, Brits gave up waiting for the sun to appear and searched for a rain-free break beyond the UK. Last minute bookings saw a marked increase with holidaymakers starting to turn their backs on staycations, and early sales of foreign holidays in 2013 are already encouraging."
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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