Trips abroad down by 10%
Wednesday, 13 Aug, 2009
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The number of British people travelling abroad slumped by ten per cent in the 12 months to June, new figures show.
The reduction from 70.9 million to 63.5 million included a ten per cent drop to Europe (down to 50.4 million), a 15% decline to North America (down to four million) and a nine per cent decrease to the rest of the world (down to 9.1 million).
Figures from the Office for National Statistics show that for the three months to the end of June the number of visits abroad remained broadly the same as the previous three months at 15.2 million. But spending fell by eight per cent to £7.6 billion.
The number of visitors to the UK was also down in the 12 months to June, with figures showing an eight per cent drop from 33.1 million to 30.5 million.
Arrivals from Europe were down by five per cent to 22.9 million, from North America by 22% to 3.4 million and from the rest of the world by ten per cent o 4.2 million.
Visits to the UK in the April-June quarter rose by four per cent to 7.7 million over the previous three months but spending was pegged at £4.2 billion, the Overseas Travel and Torusim Statistical Bulletin shows.
*Commenting on the British Chamber of Commerce report which said that tourism is ‘poorly regarded’ in government and the UK is slipping behind its competitors as a result, Conservative shadow culture secretary Jeremy Hunt said: “This is more damning evidence that shows how the government is simply not taking tourism seriously enough.
“The current structures that promote UK tourism are not working well enough. That’s why we’re looking at creating a tourism minister to give the sector the leadership it so desperately needs.”
by Phil Davies
Phil Davies
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