Cash fears mean fewer trips abroad

Hard times are taking their toll on UK tourists, according to official travel figures.

People are continuing to take fewer overseas trips and to spend less while they are away, according to Office for National Statistics figures.

They show the number of overseas visits by UK residents fell from 5.22 million in October 2010 to 5.09m in the same month this year. The amount spent fell from £2.83 billion to £2.76bn.

In contrast, foreign residents made 2.77m visits to the UK in October 2011, spending more than £1.67bn. This compared with just over 2.72m visits in October last year, when spending totalled just under £1.64bn.