London 2012 Olympics: More visit UK – even before the Games

THE UK welcomed an increased number of overseas visitors in the first six months of this year
– before the Olympics started.

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.

UK 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.