Economic downturn affects overseas visitors to UK
Britain’s tourism industry is suffering from the impact of the global economic downturn, a survey has revealed.
According to the International Passenger Survey the recession has caused the number of visitors to the UK to fall by 13 percent in the first three months of 2009, although spending by tourists has remained constant to last years figures
In the first quarter of this year, the International Passenger Survey said that overseas residents made 6.3 million visits to the United Kingdom..
“The figures illustrate the continuing challenges of maintaining Britain’s popularity as a destination in the face of the global economic downturn and increasing competition from rival destinations,” said Andie Dawe, recently appointed chief executive of the national tourism agency Visit Britain. “Although these are traditionally lower months for inbound tourism, we know that a weak pound is not sufficient in itself to offset the full impact of the recession on international travel” .
