Member Article

British tourism generates highest ever GDP

Inbound tourism generated its highest ever contribution to the UK’s economy in 2012, after visitors spend £19bn.

Statistics from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) showed a 4% rise from 2011 and confirmed a rise in the number of visitors to Britain.

More than 31m international tourists came to the UK, attracted by significant events over the summer such as the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Tourism continued to grow following these events, and the sector yielded its best recovery results since 2008, with 3.2m contributed by North American visitors, and 2.8m from European markets.

Inbound business was secured by 12m holiday visits and strong growth amongst businesses, while visits from non-EU markets came to a record 2.2m.

December was a particularly strong month for inbound tourism with a 12% increase in the number of visits in comparison with 2011 and a 15% rise in spending.

VisitBritain’s director of strategy and communications, Patricia Yates, commented: “Inbound tourism has shown it can continue to deliver growth to the UK economy and Britain has managed to avoid the threatened displacement in the year of the Games.

“Our tourism strategy was clearly to use the showcasing of the Games and turn the millions who watched coverage of Britain into visitors in the months and years ahead.

“We have made an excellent start and will continue our work promoting Britain as a great place to visit to deliver further revenue and jobs in the UK through 2013.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Miranda Dobson .