Overseas travel down, particularly to the US

A steep drop in business trips and a decline in travel to the US have taken their toll on the latest figures from the ONS.

Overall, overseas visits by UK residents fell 4% year-on-year in April 2019 to an estimated 6.1 million.

However, UK residents spent £3.7 billion on these visits, 11% more than in April 2018.

In May, the figures remained stagnant at 6.2 million visits while spending was down 3% to £3.7 billion.

During the period March to May 2019, there were 17.1 million visits abroad by UK residents, the same as the previous year.

UK residents spent £10.4 billion on these visits, a rise of 1% over the previous year.

Visits to North America were down 21% to 0.8 million while visits to European countries were up by 2% to 13.6 million.

Visits to ‘other countries’ fell 4% to 2.7 million visits.

Holiday visits increased by 2% to 11.2 million, business visits fell by 11% to 1.5 million, while visits to friends and relatives remained the same at 4.1 million.

Meanwhile, overseas residents made an estimated 3.1 million visits to the UK in April 2019, 8% fewer than in April 2018.

Overseas residents spent £1.6 billion on visits to the UK in April 2019, which was 14% less than in April 2018.

In May, overseas residents made an estimated 3.3 million visits to the UK, 6% fewer than in May 2018.

They spent £2.1 billion on visits to the UK in May 2019, 1% less than the year before.

During the period March to May 2019, there were 9.4 million visits to the UK, 5% down year on year.

Overseas residents spent £5.3 billion in the UK over this period, 7% less than the previous year.

There was a jump of 10% in visits from North American residents to 1.2 million, while visits by European residents fell 6% to 6.9 million and visits from residents of ‘other countries’ dropped by 7% to 1.2 million.

Holiday visits dropped 6% to 3.8 million for this period, business visits fell by 5% to 2.2 million, and visits to friends and relatives dropped 3% to 2.8 million.

Commenting on the figures, James Schofield, head of food, drink and leisure at Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking, said: "Slowing global growth and continued uncertainty alongside the increasing trend of delaying bookings appear to have impacted Brits’ appetite for travelling abroad in April and May, as well as the appeal of the UK to visitors from overseas.

"Businesses are having to adapt to exchange rate fluctuations, the ongoing popularity of booking last-minute breaks, the emergence of lesser-known destinations and the shifting demands of millennial and generation-Z travellers."

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