9% of the UK’s GDP is generated by tourism. The rest of England accounts for 33%, Scotland 10% and Wales 2%. Holidays is the number one reason as to why tourists visit the UK, 63% of visits to the UK are for a holiday away. that aims to provide you with the tools you need to make better 11.8 million or 31.4% visited the UK to see friends or relatives. 7 million overseas residents visited in April 2027. This is significantly faster than the overall economy. Edinburgh is the second most visited city, known for its low crime rate and rich heritage it is understandable that Edinburgh is so popular. The highest number of visitors to the UK in one year was 41.1 million in 2017, meaning the number of visitors was almost two-thirds of the whole population of the UK. According to the National Office for Statistics tourists spent more than 111 million nights and close to £11.9 billion. However, holidays are still the most common reason why people visit the UK. Sightseeing is the most common activity, with 16% of those only in the UK for a day doing some form of sightseeing. Georgia-Rose is a publisher at Finder.com and specialises in all things shopping and travel. How many tourists visit the UK each year? We may receive compensation from our partners for placement of their products or services. All rights reserved. The average spend per visit is £604 with an average length stay of 7 nights. 476,356,100 nights were spent in tourist accommodation. Visitors Figures; Number of visits: 21 million: Total visitor spend: £2,104 million: Between April and June 2019 there was an 18% (1.6 million visits) increase from the previous year in visits from North American residents. The 37.9 million overseas visitors who came to the UK in 2018 spent £22.9 billion. World and regional statistics, national data, maps, rankings – World Data Atlas 3.9 million American tourists visited in 2018 and spent a collective £3.4 billion. In 2017 the UK ranked seventh in the UNWTO international tourist arrivals league, behind France, Spain, USA, China, Italy and Mexico. Located in Upton, just over a mile north of Chester city center, Chester Zoo is England's … The UK has the most trips by EU citizens within their own country. product or commit to any plan. The USA, France, and Germany were the top markets in terms of the number of visits to the UK, accounting for 29% of visits in 2018. The regional value of tourism in the UK 2013 (2016): This report from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), Tourism Intelligence Unit examines the value of tourism in the regions and sub-regions of the UK. Following museums, an average of 38% of respondents considered music, films and sport to be closely associated with the UK. Find out the latest data here. During April-June 2019, 4.3 million visited for a holiday. London will always be one of the most popular cities in the world because it has something for everyone when they go on holiday, whether it is the vibrant culture, the west end theatre or classic British food. London, SE1 9RS. Please note that any person or vehicle travelling for business or commercial venture, carrying commercial goods/samples will need to book via our freight teams and do not qualify for leisure fares. 88% of these students intend to come back to the UK for another holiday. Over half of the visitor spend is spent within London which is not surprising as London is the third most visited city in the world after Bangkok and Paris. Thomas St, London, SE1 9RG. It’s better … London EdinburghManchesterBirminghamGlasgowLiverpool BristolCambridge Oxford Brighton. product provider, We cannot provide you with personal advice or recommendations, The number of overseas visitors to the UK: The impact of COVID-19, Top 10 tourist countries to the UK by spending, The most popular cities to visit in the UK, Crystal Ski discount codes and promos December 2020. How many annual leave days are Brits hoping to roll over into their next holiday period? Business visits accounted for 22% of all visits in 2018 and contributed to a spend of around £4.5 billion. There was a decline of inbound visitors to the UK in 2018 falling 3% to 9 million. Walking is also another extremely popular tourist activity. Manchester has amazing cuisine; an assortment of museums and incredible nightlife and its number of overseas tourists is rising by 10% a year. This is just over a quarter of the number of tourists from 2019. Inbound tourism to the UK has been recorded at, overseas residents visited in April 2027. Buy now pay later is the fastest growing online payment method in the UK. Lying on a hot volcanic rock? A whopping 39.2 million people visited the UK in 2017, this is almost 66% of the UK population. Over 40 million tourists visited the UK in 2018 which makes this 6th biggest tourist destination. The industry supports 3.8 million jobs and has a huge impact on the UK economy. English foreign language students generate £1.2 billion in export earnings each year. By continuing to use our site, you are agreeing to the use of cookies as set in our Cookie Policy. Leisure and tourism Visits and visitors to the UK, the reasons for visiting and the amount of money they spent here. In 2018 tourists visited the UK for the following reasons: 37.9 million tourists visited the UK in 2018. Are people still using bank branches? The UK accounted for 3.7% of international tourism receipts in 2017. With almost half (47%) of all respondents saying they associate the UK with museums and with museums also being the most popular type of attraction in London, it’s likely that international visitors would treat a visit to the UK as an educational trip. In 2018, the UK welcomed 36.3 million tourist arrivals. Overseas visitors to the UK reached 7 million in 2018, a 4.4% increase from 2017. International tourism, number of arrivals World Tourism Organization, Yearbook of Tourism Statistics, Compendium of Tourism Statistics and data files. In 2019, with 16.9 million (41%) coming on holiday to the UK, this was the top reason internationals visited the UK. The statistics on UK residents travelling abroad are an informal indicator of living standards. By 2025 the UK tourism industry will be worth over £257 billion, around 10% of the UK GDP. Max length of motorhome 7m. Following closely is the Tate modern with 6.1 million visitors and the National Gallery with 6 million visitors. finder.com compares a wide range of products, providers and services but we don't provide information on all available products, providers or services. Tourists over the age of 65 are more likely to do unusual activities such as playing golf or researching ancestry. Overseas and Domestic Tourism Visits to Scotland. The most popular tourist destination in the UK is unsurprisingly London as it is the capital. UK Tourism Statistics – how many tourists visit the UK each year? Even if tourists are only visiting for one day, 16% of people manage to do some form of sightseeing. 118.6 million domestic overnight trips were made in the UK in 2018, down 2% vs. 2017. This is almost two-thirds of the population of the UK. Spain was the most popular destination for UK tourists, attracting 22% of all visitors. UK travel: Staycations set for a boom after lockdown as Britons crave domestic holidays TRAVEL in the UK is set to boom once lockdown ends according to new statistics … It comes as no surprise that London is the most popular city, with 21.7 million international visitors. Tourists from the USA were the biggest spenders when visiting the UK, forking out £4.2 billion. Between 1980 and 2018, the number of inbound visits to the UK increased by 205%. There were 37.9 million visits to the UK in 2018. Find out which city issues the most parking fines during the festive season. Overall, there has been a 69% increase in visitors to the UK, from 24.2 million in 2002 to 40.9 million in 2019. In 2018, 37.9 million tourists visited the UK, but this reached an all-time high in 2017 with 39.2 million! The South West literary offer was the second highest after London, with 6% including a literary/music/TV or film location visit during their stay. It also provides many options to see the most beautiful panoramic views such as the London Eye and a variety of rooftop bars. Tourists from the United States have contributed the most to the UK’s travel market, both by number of visitors and amount spent while visiting. We GB Tourism Survey (GBTS); GB Day Visits Survey (GBDVS); England / UK Occupancy Survey; Annual Survey of Visits to Visitor Attractions; This means that when we release monthly and annual survey reports, we're required to follow the Code of Practice for Official Statistics (2009), as produced by the UK Statistics Authority (UKSA). The United Kingdom ranked seventh in the UNWTO international arrivals league and accounted for 2.8% of global arrivals in 2017. The top three activities in which international tourists participated in during their visit included dining in restaurants, shopping and going to the pub. Buy now pay later (BNPL) statistics | 2020, Mask usage in the UK and around the world, In 2020, the UK is predicted to receive around, The most international visitors to the UK in one year was, Last year, US visitors were the largest group to visit the UK with, International visitors described a potential trip to the UK as. In 2018, 4.5 million American tourists visited the UK. A record-breaking £24.5 billion was spent by 2 million overseas visitors. The only other non-EU countries in the top ten were Australia and the USA. We found out how popular podcast listening is in the UK, how much is spent on advertising and what the most popular podcasts are. This was particularly high in the South West and Scotland (41%). Planning a holiday but keen to read up on the specifics? How many jobs does tourism create in the UK. There are 241,000 businesses in the UK travel industry. Parking fines: Which UK city issues the most tickets? License : CC BY-4.0 Tourism in London statistics demonstrates the popularity of the capital in comparison to other locations in the UK as the city has 8 times more visitors than the second most visited city. Business visits increased to 24% in June 2019 (800,000). This 14.5% growth brings the total expenditure by tourists in the UK to £149.5bn, making tourism one of the UK s largest and most successful industries. Share this. Which banks are winning and losing customers? See the chart below to see who’s visiting London (Source: Statista). The capital attracts 8 times more travelers than the second most visited city in the UK. More Britons visit the Canary Islands each year than Italy. Tourist numbers to the UK down while global figures continue to rise. As a result, it has been predicted that in 2020 the UK will only receive around 10 million international tourists. However, the coronavirus pandemic has brought a shock to the travel industry with travel bans and lockdowns being imposed all around the world. These three cities had an average of 1.2 million visitors each. By 2025, the tourism industry UK is set to be worth over £257 billion. Our address is Level 2, 20 St The UK accounted for 2.8% of global arrivals in 2017. Inbound tourism statistics recorded 37.9 million inbound visits to the UK in 2018 , 3% less than 2017 which had 39.2 million. 10% of all visits included a visit to the beach. Sources: TheGuardian, UKInbound, VisitBritain, VisitBritain, Finder, ONS, Forbes. reference number: 786446). This is a 19% increase from the previous year. Discover the latest statistics on how it’s disrupting the payments industry. Visits by overseas residents decreased in 2018 in comparison to 2017. • The UK is the fifth largest international tourism destination ranked by visitor expenditure. The tourism sector is set to grow at an annual rate of 3.8% through to 2025. Get a discount on your next Airbnb booking with these tested and verified Airbnb discount codes and promos. The most popular tourist activity and attraction is sightseeing. The Tate Modern is the most popular attraction in the capital, with 5.9 million visitors in 2018. 37.9 million people visited from overseas in 2018 and spent £22.9 billion. How much does tourism contribute to the UK GDP? Tourism statistics. This statistic shows growth in the total contribution of the travel and tourism industry to GDP in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2012 to 2018, with a forecast for 2028. Whereas, in the more rural parts of the UK, visiting the countryside, beaches, as well as national parks, are very popular amongst tourists. Tourism trends by market. Read on for more UK tourism statistics 2019 this new publication shows that the UK tourism data: Trends travel... 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