July's overseas visitor spend hits record level of £2.52 billion
International Passenger Survey figures reveal overseas visitor spending up by 23%
Bournemouth beach fills up on a sunny day in July. Credit: Southamption Atlantean via Flickr
The figures released today reveal a 23% boost in tourist spending compared to July 2012. This increase saw July enjoy record levels of spend as overseas visitors parted with £2.52 billion, beating the previous monthly record of £2.43 billion set in August 2012.
Minister for Tourism, Hugh Robertson said:
Tourism in Britain has never been stronger and the industry is making a big contribution to the economic recovery. Following the success of last year, with the Olympics and Diamond Jubilee, more people are coming to Britain, spending more money and enjoying all the great things this country has to offer.
Growth
Britain has also experienced record-breaking levels of inbound tourism this year, with tourism businesses across the whole of Britain benefitting from the post-Olympic ‘bounce’. The first seven months of 2013 have seen more holiday visits to Britain than during the same period of time in any previous year, and 4% higher than the first seven months of 2012.
Across the first seven months of 2013, Britain enjoyed record tourist spend levels of £11.24 billion, 13% higher than the same period in 2012. Over the 12 months to July 2013, there has been record spend of £19.95 billion. Spend per visit was also at record levels in the 12 months to July 2013, with visitors spending an average of £629 - 7% more per visit than in the previous 12 months.
Significantly, July also saw the first positive growth - 2% more visits than in July 2012 - in four months in terms of visits from North America, the market with highest total spend.
More information
- The full report is available on the Visit Britain website
- Visit the Britain is GREAT page