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.

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.

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.

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.

The United Kingdom's outbound travel industry is projected to hit a value of US$ 90.46 billion by 2024. This momentum is expected to be sustained as it is rising at a CAGR of 8.60%, leading to an estimated valuation of US$ 206.43 billion by 2034.

Category wise insights

In June 2024, visits abroad from the United Kingdom totaled **** million, which was an increase over June in the previous year. 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 August 2019. 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.

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.

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.

The outbound travel market in the United Kingdom is projected to reach USD 98.24 billion by 2025 and increase to USD 224.17 billion by 2035, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.60%.

Analyzing UK Outbound Travel Market by Top Investment Segments

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;

Spending on visits abroad by residents of the United Kingdom grew in 2023 over the previous year, after shrinking due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. In 2023, holidays accounted for the highest outbound expenditure, with spending on vacations abroad amounting to nearly ** billion British pounds. This represented not only an increase over the previous two years, but also from before the pandemic, with holiday spending having stood at ***** billion British pounds in 2019.

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

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;

Continental Europe was the main destination for business travelers from the United Kingdom in 2023. In that year, UK business visitors accounted for around **** million trips to Europe, which nearly a million more than the previous year.

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

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;

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 Insight: UK report provides a thorough insight into the UK's domestic and outbound tourism market. The report looks at the profiles of British tourists and summarizes the key reasons that they 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