U.S. Travelers Keep UK Tourism Going Strong

Latest figures released by VisitBritain show strong growth from markets including the US, Germany and the United Arab Emirates in the first quarter of 2016, underpinning the best ever first quarter for total inbound visits.

The Office for National Statistics results show that from January to March this year visits from the US, the UK’s most valuable visitor market, grew by nine percent to 542,000 compared to the same period last year.

Strong growth was also seen from EU countries with 5.4 million visits, a ten percent increase on the first quarter of last year, and spend up seven percent to £1.8 billion.

Germany and Spain showed double-digit growth in visits and spend in the first quarter. Visits from Germany grew 24 percent to 602,000 with spend up 26 percent to £222 million.

A new record was set for the number of inbound visits from Spain which grew by 12 percent to 548,000, with spend also up 15 percent to £195 million.

Visits from the UAE were up 15 percent to 77,000, the strongest first quarter on record, with spend also up nine percent to £105 million, while visits from China, the world’s largest outbound market, were on par with last year’s record first quarter, putting the market on track for another good year.

Visits from Australia grew by ten percent to 157,000 with spending increasing by 30 percent to £173 million.

VisitBritain director Patricia Yates said: “It’s really encouraging to see strong growth in visits from some of our most important markets and we now have the opportunity to build on this as Britain is offering great value for inbound visitors.

Last year set a record for inbound tourism to Britain on visits and spend with 36.1 million visits, five percent up on 2014, and spending up one percent to £22.1 billion.