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.

In 2024, the number of overseas resident visits to the United Kingdom totaled 39 million, representing a growth of around three percent from the previous year. Has the UK’s tourism industry completely recovered from the coronavirus pandemic? Like in most countries, the travel restrictions put in place to stem the spread of the coronavirus wreaked havoc on the UK’s tourism industry. Overseas visitor numbers dropped to 7.1 million in 2021, representing a drop of over 80 percent from 2019. While the figure reported for 2024 showed a continued recovery in terms of overseas visitors to the UK, it remained below pre-pandemic levels. However, in terms of spending among the UK’s leading inbound travel markets, overseas visitors spent more in 2024 than in 2019, with visitors from the UK’s leading inbound travel market, the United States, spending around 70 percent more during their travels than in 2019. What are the most visited cities in the UK? Unsurprisingly, London has consistently ranked as the most visited town or city in the UK among international tourists in recent years, drawing in over 20 million visitors in 2024. This was around tenfold the number of the second-most visited city, Edinburgh, during the same year. As the UK’s capital city, London’s tourist attractions are as varied as the city itself; however, one particularly strong draw for inbound visitors is Royal Family-related tourism. This is evident with the top two most visited paid tourist attractions in England being based in London and either belonging to the Royal Family or being run by a Royal-affiliated charity. Meanwhile, among UK residents, London ranks as the second most popular destination for a summer staycation, with the South West ranking first.

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;

The number of outbound trips from the United Kingdom rose significantly in 2023 over the previous year, following a dramatic decline with the onset of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Despite the sharp annual increase, the number of visits abroad from the UK remained below pre-pandemic levels, totaling 86.21 million in 2023. As the volume of trips abroad grew substantially compared to 2021, so did the outbound tourism expenditure in the UK.

Quarterly estimates of overseas residents’ visits and spending. Also includes data on nights, purpose, region of UK visited and mode of travel. Breakdowns by nationality and area of residence are covered. This dataset is published quarterly. The versions published for Quarters 1 (Jan to Mar), 2 (Apr to June) and 3 (July to Sept) are on a separate webpage under the name "Estimates of overseas residents' visits and spending".

Spending on trips abroad by residents of the United Kingdom increased in 2023, following a dramatic decline with the onset of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. In total, expenditure on visits abroad from the UK amounted to 72.44 billion British pounds in 2023. 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.

Historical dataset showing U.K. tourist spending by year from 1995 to 1998.

Spain was the most visited country by residents of the United Kingdom in 2023, with approximately 17.81 million visits. This figure was marginally lower than in 2019, prior to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Meanwhile, France, Italy, and Greece followed in the 2023 rankings; of these, only Greece reported a higher number of visits that year compared to pre-pandemic levels. Spain still a favorite among UK holidaymakers Spain has become a firm favorite among holiday travelers from Britain, as it continually lists as the most visited holiday destination abroad. Beach holidays are popular among Brits in search of warmer climates, and the relative ease and cheapness of package holidays to the Mediterranean make it possible. Along with France and Germany, the UK is one of the key inbound travel markets for Spain. Outbound tourism from the UK during the COVID-19 pandemic As suggested by the figures recorded by the leading outbound travel destinations, the number of visits abroad from the United Kingdom rebounded in 2022 but had not yet caught up with pre-pandemic levels as of 2023, totaling around 86 million that year. As the volume of visits bounced back, the outbound tourism expenditure in the UK also experienced a sharp annual increase in 2022 and in fact exceeded pre-pandemic levels in 2023.

Tourist Arrivals in the United Kingdom decreased to 9297 Thousand in the fourth quarter of 2024 from 10408 Thousand in the third quarter of 2024. This dataset provides - United Kingdom Tourist Arrivals- actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

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;

United Kingdom UK: International Tourism: Receipts data was reported at 55.558 USD bn in 2016. This records a decrease from the previous number of 60.807 USD bn for 2015. United Kingdom UK: International Tourism: Receipts data is updated yearly, averaging 40.038 USD bn from Dec 1995 (Median) to 2016, with 22 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 62.604 USD bn in 2014 and a record low of 26.137 USD bn in 2001. United Kingdom UK: International Tourism: Receipts 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 receipts are expenditures by international inbound visitors, including payments to national carriers for international transport. These receipts include any other prepayment made for goods or services received in the destination country. They also may include receipts from same-day visitors, except when these are important enough to justify separate classification. For some countries they do not include receipts 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;

United Kingdom UK: International Tourism: Receipts: for Travel Items data was reported at 41.458 USD bn in 2016. This records a decrease from the previous number of 45.595 USD bn for 2015. United Kingdom UK: International Tourism: Receipts: for Travel Items data is updated yearly, averaging 32.220 USD bn from Dec 1995 (Median) to 2016, with 22 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 50.068 USD bn in 2014 and a record low of 18.864 USD bn in 2001. United Kingdom UK: International Tourism: Receipts: 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 receipts for travel items are expenditures by international inbound visitors in the reporting economy. 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 receipts should include any other prepayment made for goods or services received in the destination country. They also may include receipts from 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;

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.

The number of visits by overseas residents to the United Kingdom gradually recovered in 2022, after falling sharply with the onset of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. As of **************, inbound tourist visits to the UK totaled roughly *** million, which was an increase from September in the previous year and was only marginally less than pre-pandemic levels for the same month. Over the period considered, visits by overseas tourists to the United Kingdom peaked at *** million in ***********.

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.

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

United Kingdom UK: International Tourism: Number of Departures data was reported at 70,815,000.000 Person in 2016. This records an increase from the previous number of 65,720,000.000 Person for 2015. United Kingdom UK: International Tourism: Number of Departures data is updated yearly, averaging 58,447,500.000 Person from Dec 1995 (Median) to 2016, with 22 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 70,815,000.000 Person in 2016 and a record low of 41,345,000.000 Person in 1995. United Kingdom UK: International Tourism: Number of Departures 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 outbound tourists are the number of departures that people make from their country of usual residence to any other country for any purpose other than a remunerated activity in the country visited. The data on outbound tourists refer to the number of departures, not to the number of people traveling. Thus a person who makes several trips from a country during a given period is counted each time as a new departure.; ; World Tourism Organization, Yearbook of Tourism Statistics, Compendium of Tourism Statistics and data files.; Gap-filled total;

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