London attracts almost 11m UK overnight visitors
Almost 11 million people from the UK visited London for an overnight stay in 2006, according to latest figures.
The rise of 2.6% over 2005 to 10.9 million meant that the capital was the only region in England to see an increase in domestic visits in the last year. Spending rose by 8.4% to £2.27 billion.
The figures from the UK Tourism Survey follow April’s announcement of a record number of overseas visitors to London in 2006, where an extra 1.3 million visitors came to the capital boosting London’s economy by £600 million.
A lower level of growth in domestic visitors in 2007 is forecast.
“We also expect continued growth in domestic visitor growth this year with visits to rise by 1.3% and spending to expand by 3.5% up to £2.35 billion,” said CEO James Bidwell.
The latest London Attraction Monitor – Visit London’s monthly overview of the current state of visitor attractions year on year – also showed positive results for the capital. The first quarter of 2007 saw admissions grow by almost 17% compared to the same period last year.
Bidwell said: “London welcomed nearly 11 million overnight visitors from the rest of the UK last year – the only region in England to reverse falling domestic visitor figures. The latest statistics suggest the domestic market is beginning to stabilise for the first time since the millennium.”
He said high–profile events were luring domestic visitors back to the capital.
“2006 was a record year for London theatre, the British International Motor Show returned to London after nearly 30 years and we hosted EuroPride, the largest gay event in Europe
“In 2007, as we continue to gear up to London 2012, major new sporting events are coming to the capital including the start of the Tour de France, the world’s largest annual sporting event and in October the new Wembley will host the first competitive NFL American football game played outside the American Continent.
“This year also sees the sees the opening of Western Europe’s largest entertainment arena at The O2.”
by Phil Davies
Phil Davies
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