– Tourists from the US and from the Gulf States spend the most on their UK holidays.
– Visitors from the Nordics, Benelux countries, USA, Italy and Spain like to splash out on food.
– Holidaymakers from Denmark, South Korea and Israel spend significantly more on live entertainment, relative to their total spend.
– Visitors from China, Hong Kong and Thailand like to shop.
– Latin American visitors enjoy the UK’s tourist attractions and exhibitions.
These were some of the findings of new research by UKinbound and Visit Britain who analysed spending behaviours of different markets.
UKinbound’s chief executive officer Deirdre Wells OBE said: "The findings provide a valuable insight regarding inbound visitors’ spending habits and provide further evidence of the incredible contribution that tourism makes to the UK economy.
"Further understanding our visitors will allow our members to tailor their itineraries, products and services, ensuring the UK remains a world class tourism destination."
VisitBritain’s chief executive officer, Sally Balcombe added: "Understanding more about what our visitors want, and getting a fast read out of where they spend their money, will ensure we get the right products to them at the right time. The insights from this type of research are invaluable for the industry and crucial for us staying a competitive travel destination."
According to the International Passenger Survey, over 37.6 million people visited the UK in 2016, a 4% increase on 2015, and spent £22.5 billion, an increase of 2%.
