The figures, taken from the Office of National Statistics’ annual Passenger Survey, show the increasing popularity of Britain from the emerging markets of China and the UAE as well as growing interest from France. Last year 3.8m French crossed the channel, spending £1.5bn – a 30 per cent rise on the previous year.
Although there were no major changes in the top 10 countries from 2011, the increase in visits from emerging markets further down the list shows that marketing efforts to attract tourists from these countries paid off, VisitBritain chief executive Sandie Dawe said.
“These figures prove that our ability to match Government investment with funds from private sector partners is a winning formula. Our campaigns are working and tourism has once again shown its ability to deliver growth, revenue and jobs across Britain,” she said.
“Our task now is to ensure we build on the image boost of the 2012 Games to attract an even greater number of visitors this year and beyond. By 2020, the UK could welcome 40 million overseas visitors a year, contributing £31.5 billion annually to the economy.”
Domestic tourism
Domestic spend also rose in 2012 - up 9 per cent to £19.5bn, but visitor numbers remained similar to those of 2011. The number of domestic overnight trips taken in 2012 fell slightly by half a per cent, with spend up 6 per cent.
James Berresford, VisitEngland’s chief executive, said results should be considered in context with the bad weather experienced across the country last year which could have influenced the drop in visits to the countryside and the seaside by 2 per cent while pushing up overnight trips to towns and cities.
He said: “These figures clearly show that England is still a much-loved holiday destination for millions of Britons. However, 2012 was a mixed bag for many tourism businesses, and we know that some areas of the country have felt the impact of the poor weather. To boost domestic breaks and inspire even more people to take a holiday at home in 2013, we are working closely with Government on a £4m pan-UK integrated marketing campaign fronted by national icons, Wallace & Gromit. The campaign will kick off on 12 May with a TV advertisement which will see the quintessentially British duo encouraging people to book a break through their local travel agent.”