The number of visits abroad from the United Kingdom grew in 2023 over the previous year, reaching close to *** million trips. That year, the most common purpose for travelling abroad for UK residents was for holiday purposes, with over ** million trips made for this reason.

The number of outbound trips from the United Kingdom rose significantly in 2024 over the previous year, following a dramatic decline with the onset of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. With this sharp increase, the number of visits abroad from the UK surpassed pre-pandemic levels for the first time since restrictions were lifted, totaling ***** million in 2024. As the volume of trips abroad grew substantially, so did the outbound tourism expenditure in the UK.

Monthly estimates of overseas residents’ visits and spending and visits and spending abroad by UK or Great Britain residents. Also includes data on purpose of visit, area visited by UK residents and area of residence for overseas residents.

During the second quarter of 2025, visits abroad from the United Kingdom totaled ******million, which was an increase over the previous quarter. However, this figure remained below pre-pandemic levels for the same month. Over the period considered, monthly outbound visits from the UK peaked at around *****million in the third quarter of 2024. Tourism in the UK during the COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic turned the global tourism industry upside down, with countries worldwide enacting lockdowns and travel bans to limit the spread of the virus. As a result of the emergency measures, the total number of outbound tourist visits from the United Kingdom declined by ** percent in 2020 over the previous year, then dropped even further in 2021, reaching the lowest figure in a decade. Since then, outbound visitation rates not only recovered but reached a record high in 2024, totaling over ** million visits. However, inbound tourist visits in the UK have not recovered at the same rate, with the 2024 figure around five percent lower than in 2019. Contribution of travel and tourism to the economy in the UK In 2024, the total contribution of travel and tourism to GDP in the UK amounted to *** billion British pounds, which was around **** percent higher than before the pandemic. Meanwhile, travel and tourism's total contribution to employment in the UK is significant, with *** million jobs supported by the industry in 2024, which was slightly lower than in 2019.

This report analyses the total number of outbound tourist trips by UK residents. The data is sourced from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), collated within its "overseas travel and tourism (OTT) time series", and estimates are afforded by IBISWorld. The OTT time series provides seasonally and non-seasonally adjusted estimates of completed international visits to and from the United Kingdom, and was originally based on International Passenger Survey (IPS) data. Developed by the ONS, the IPS produces estimates on the basis of 250,000 interviews conducted over a given year. Interviews are conducted at all major UK airports and seas routes, at Eurostar terminals and on Eurotunnel shuttle trains. In this report, quarterly data is summed to produce tourism figures over financial years (i.e. April through March) and is not adjusted for seasonality.

Air travel was the most common form of transport used to travel overseas among residents of the United Kingdom in 2024, used for ***** million trips. Meanwhile, sea and tunnel travel accounted for roughly ***** million visits abroad.

Spending on trips abroad by residents of the United Kingdom increased in 2024, following a dramatic decline with the onset of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. In total, expenditure on visits abroad from the UK amounted to ***** billion British pounds in 2024. The annual rise in spending on outbound visits was mainly driven by a sharp increase in the number of visits abroad from the United Kingdom.

Annual estimates of visits and spending by UK residents abroad. Also includes data on nights, purpose, main country visited and mode of travel. Breakdowns by length of stay and nationality are covered. In 2019, new methods were introduced for this dataset. The 2009 to 2019 edition supersedes all previous time series editions of this dataset. We advise against using all editions listed before the 2019 edition.

United Kingdom UK: International Tourism: Number of Arrivals data was reported at 35,814,000.000 Person in 2016. This records an increase from the previous number of 34,436,000.000 Person for 2015. United Kingdom UK: International Tourism: Number of Arrivals data is updated yearly, averaging 28,119,000.000 Person from Dec 1995 (Median) to 2016, with 22 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 35,814,000.000 Person in 2016 and a record low of 20,982,000.000 Person in 2001. United Kingdom UK: International Tourism: Number of Arrivals data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United Kingdom – Table UK.World Bank.WDI: Tourism Statistics. International inbound tourists (overnight visitors) are the number of tourists who travel to a country other than that in which they have their usual residence, but outside their usual environment, for a period not exceeding 12 months and whose main purpose in visiting is other than an activity remunerated from within the country visited. When data on number of tourists are not available, the number of visitors, which includes tourists, same-day visitors, cruise passengers, and crew members, is shown instead. Sources and collection methods for arrivals differ across countries. In some cases data are from border statistics (police, immigration, and the like) and supplemented by border surveys. In other cases data are from tourism accommodation establishments. For some countries number of arrivals is limited to arrivals by air and for others to arrivals staying in hotels. Some countries include arrivals of nationals residing abroad while others do not. Caution should thus be used in comparing arrivals across countries. The data on inbound tourists refer to the number of arrivals, not to the number of people traveling. Thus a person who makes several trips to a country during a given period is counted each time as a new arrival.; ; World Tourism Organization, Yearbook of Tourism Statistics, Compendium of Tourism Statistics and data files.; Gap-filled total;

United Kingdom UK: International Tourism: Expenditures: for Travel Items data was reported at 64.774 USD bn in 2016. This records a decrease from the previous number of 66.813 USD bn for 2015. United Kingdom UK: International Tourism: Expenditures: for Travel Items data is updated yearly, averaging 55.972 USD bn from Dec 1995 (Median) to 2016, with 22 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 76.584 USD bn in 2007 and a record low of 24.926 USD bn in 1995. United Kingdom UK: International Tourism: Expenditures: for Travel Items data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United Kingdom – Table UK.World Bank.WDI: Tourism Statistics. International tourism expenditures are expenditures of international outbound visitors in other countries. The goods and services are purchased by, or on behalf of, the traveler or provided, without a quid pro quo, for the traveler to use or give away. These may include expenditures by residents traveling abroad as same-day visitors, except in cases where these are so important as to justify a separate classification. Excluded is the international carriage of travelers, which is covered in passenger travel items. Data are in current U.S. dollars.; ; World Tourism Organization, Yearbook of Tourism Statistics, Compendium of Tourism Statistics and data files.; Gap-filled total;

The travel spending of UK tourists abroad roughly tripled between 1999 and 2019. In 2019, the United Kingdom's outbound travel spending amounted to roughly **** billion British pounds. In that year, the inbound travel spending, namely the travel expenditure of overseas visitors in the United Kingdom, reached about **** billion British pounds.

The number of visits made by residents of the United Kingdom to the European Union rose in 2024 over the previous year, after shrinking with the onset of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Despite the annual increase, outbound trips to EU member countries remained below pre-pandemic levels, totaling around ***** million in 2024. That year, the number of visits from the European Union to the UK also grew compared to 2023 but did not catch up with pre-pandemic figures.

United Kingdom UK: International Tourism: Expenditures data was reported at 79.371 USD bn in 2016. This records a decrease from the previous number of 82.824 USD bn for 2015. United Kingdom UK: International Tourism: Expenditures data is updated yearly, averaging 67.664 USD bn from Dec 1995 (Median) to 2016, with 22 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 90.243 USD bn in 2007 and a record low of 30.749 USD bn in 1995. United Kingdom UK: International Tourism: Expenditures data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United Kingdom – Table UK.World Bank.WDI: Tourism Statistics. International tourism expenditures are expenditures of international outbound visitors in other countries, including payments to foreign carriers for international transport. These expenditures may include those by residents traveling abroad as same-day visitors, except in cases where these are important enough to justify separate classification. For some countries they do not include expenditures for passenger transport items. Data are in current U.S. dollars.; ; World Tourism Organization, Yearbook of Tourism Statistics, Compendium of Tourism Statistics and data files.; Gap-filled total;

Seasonally and non-seasonally adjusted estimates of completed international visits. Based on International Passenger Survey data.

United Kingdom UK: International Tourism: Expenditures: % of Total Imports data was reported at 9.869 % in 2016. This records an increase from the previous number of 9.864 % for 2015. United Kingdom UK: International Tourism: Expenditures: % of Total Imports data is updated yearly, averaging 10.024 % from Dec 1995 (Median) to 2016, with 22 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 11.078 % in 2003 and a record low of 8.279 % in 2011. United Kingdom UK: International Tourism: Expenditures: % of Total Imports data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United Kingdom – Table UK.World Bank.WDI: Tourism Statistics. International tourism expenditures are expenditures of international outbound visitors in other countries, including payments to foreign carriers for international transport. These expenditures may include those by residents traveling abroad as same-day visitors, except in cases where these are important enough to justify separate classification. For some countries they do not include expenditures for passenger transport items. Their share in imports is calculated as a ratio to imports of goods and services, which comprise all transactions between residents of a country and the rest of the world involving a change of ownership from nonresidents to residents of general merchandise, goods sent for processing and repairs, nonmonetary gold, and services.; ; World Tourism Organization, Yearbook of Tourism Statistics, Compendium of Tourism Statistics and data files, and IMF and World Bank imports estimates.; Weighted average;

GlobalData’s "Tourism Source Market Insights: UK", provides a thorough insight into the UK's domestic and outbound tourism industry. The report shades light into the profiles of UK tourists and summarizes the key reasons why the British travel. The report offers an in-depth analysis of traveler flows, spending patterns, main destination markets and current and future opportunities for tourism businesses seeking to tap into the UK outbound travel market. Read More

United Kingdom UK: International Tourism: Expenditures: for Passenger Transport Items data was reported at 14.597 USD bn in 2016. This records a decrease from the previous number of 16.011 USD bn for 2015. United Kingdom UK: International Tourism: Expenditures: for Passenger Transport Items data is updated yearly, averaging 11.544 USD bn from Dec 1995 (Median) to 2016, with 22 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 16.011 USD bn in 2015 and a record low of 5.823 USD bn in 1995. United Kingdom UK: International Tourism: Expenditures: for Passenger Transport Items data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United Kingdom – Table UK.World Bank.WDI: Tourism Statistics. International tourism expenditures for passenger transport items are expenditures of international outbound visitors in other countries for all services provided during international transportation by nonresident carriers. Also included are passenger services performed within an economy by nonresident carriers. Excluded are passenger services provided to nonresidents by resident carriers within the resident economies; these are included in travel items. In addition to the services covered by passenger fares--including fares that are a part of package tours but excluding cruise fares, which are included in travel--passenger services include such items as charges for excess baggage, vehicles, or other personal accompanying effects and expenditures for food, drink, or other items for which passengers make expenditures while on board carriers. Data are in current U.S. dollars.; ; World Tourism Organization, Yearbook of Tourism Statistics, Compendium of Tourism Statistics and data files.; Gap-filled total;

In 2024, the United States was the leading inbound travel market for the United Kingdom based on the number of visits. That year, the UK reported approximately 5.59 million inbound trips from the U.S., surpassing the figures recorded in the previous five years. In total, the number of inbound visits in the UK reach nearly 40 million in 2024.

Annual inbound, outbound and domestic expenditure on tourism, internal tourism consumption and employment for the tourism industries.