London 2012 Olympics: More visit UK – even before the Games
Foreign residents made 14.75 million trips in January to June – a 2 per cent rise on the first half of last year, the Office for National Statistics said.
The visitors spent more than £7.81 billion during their trips, another 2 per cent increase on the January to June 2011 total. Spending by tourists was boosted by North Americans, who have made 5 per cent more visits in the first six months of this year than the same time in 2011.
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Hide AdUK residents made half a million more visits abroad in June compared with a year ago. Spending by UK residents during trips abroad rose in June, while total spending for January to June – at £14.34 billion – is 2 per cent up on last year.
The figures are a welcome boost for UK tourism, with totals for the second half of the year expected to be way up on last year, due to the Olympics.