NO surge in UK tourism following EU referendum, official figures reveal
Britain has not seen any increase in tourists following the fall in the value of sterling after the EU referendum, official figures have revealed.
Contrary to initial reports that tourists were flocking to the UK to take advantage of the cheaper pound, statistics from the British Hospitality Association show that tourist arrivals have dropped.
It said 385,000 fewer holidaymakers came to the UK in the first nine months of the year, down 3.5% on the same period last year. In July tourist arrivals were down around 5%, they dipped around 2.5% in August but they rose slightly in September.
However, overall there were 700,000 more foreign visitors due to a 3.8% increase in business travel and 8.2% more people visiting friends and relatives.
The BHA Travel Monitor, which will be published monthly and quarterly, also highlights a 1.4% year on year decrease in overall spend by overseas visitors to the UK during the first half of the year. Tourists spend was down by £323 million (-6%) over 2014, but compared with last year there was an increase of 24% in ‘miscellaneous spend’, including shopping trips.
BHA chief executive Ufi Ibrahim said: "We have launched The BHA Travel Monitor so that we can provide, through detailed and structured analysis of passenger data, a true picture of hospitality and tourism performance.
"For instance our analysis of the increase in the number of incoming people up to the end of September shows that it is not because of more leisure tourists, which might have been the initial impression. There has been no post European referendum tourist surge."
The Travel Monitor found that, contrary to expectations following the EU referendum and the rise in the cost of foreign currency, there has been a 5.5% surge in the number of Britons travelling abroad so far this year.
In September the number of outbound tourists rose 10.1% compared to the same month last year, confounding post-Brexit expectations.
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
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
TAP Air Portugal to operate 29 flights due to strike on December 11
Air Mauritius reduces frequencies to Europe and Asia for the holiday season
Airbnb eyes a loyalty program but details remain under wraps