August was the second best month for UK visitor numbers in 2002.
Figures released by BITOA show that August 2002 was just 1.45% behind the same month last year, second to June 2002, which lagged 1.33% year-on-year.
Forward bookings for August were up 1.91% from August 2001, but still down 9.21% on the same month in 2000. BITOA chief executive Richard Tobias told TravelMole that he thought forward bookings would increase later in the year.
He also said that lead-in times were getting shorter. “Due to uncertainties in the political situation, particularly with regard to Iraq, the lead-in times are shorter for both out-bound and in-bound tourism. Most consumers know they no longer have to commit six or nine months ahead.”
Visitor numbers in August were still 18.76% behind 2000 figures, considered to be the last normal year.
Read our previous stories:
24-Sep-02 Interview: BITOA chief executive Richard Tobias
10-Sep-02 Holidaymakers not afraid to fly
12-Aug-02 Visitor numbers show steady improvement, but still down on last year
28-June-02 UK visitor numbers slip back
27-May-02 BITOA figures show visitors trickling back
