Visitors to the UK last year spent a record £19 billion, a 4% rise on 2011.
The growth has been attributed to the 2012 Olympics and Diamond Jubilee celebrations.
Figures from the ONS also confirmed that visits were up 1% on 2011 to 31 million international tourists.
This represents the best year since 2008.
VisitBritain director of strategy and communications Patricia Yates said: "Inbound tourism has shown it can continue to deliver growth to the UK economy and Britain has managed to avoid the threatened displacement in the year of the Games."
