Official figures show sharp decline in overseas travel
The number of overseas visits by UK residents fell by 12% to 63 million in the 12 months to July, compared to the previous year.
According to figures released today by the Office for National Statistics, visits to Europe decreased by 12% to 49.6 million, while visits to North America fell 19%to 3.9 million.
Visits to other parts of the world dropped 9% to 9.1 million.
Meanwhile, the number of visits to the UK fell 9% in the last 12 months compared with a year earlier.
Visits from residents of Europe dropped 6% to 22.7 million, while visits from North America fell 21% to 3.4 million.
Visits from other parts of the world fell 11% to 4.2 million.
But there are signs of a slight improvement, as during May to July 2009 the seasonally adjusted number of visits by overseas residents to the UK increased 2% to 7.7 million when compared with the previous three months.
Associated spending by overseas residents on visits to the UK fell slightly by 3% to £4.0 billion.
By Bev Fearis
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.
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 
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
Skyscanner reveals major travel trends 2026 at ITB Asia
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists