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UK visitor numbers slip back
The number of overseas visitors to the UK declined markedly in May, according to the latest figures from the British Incoming Tour Operators Association (BITOA).
May’s figures fell by 4.78% compared to the same month a year earlier. And the fact that May 2001 was 18.24% down on the same month 12 months earlier means that arrivals in May 2002 were 23% lower than in May 2000.
The figures are also disappointing because BITOA’s April figures had shown a slight improvement on the month before – down by 1.62%, compared to a 1.95% fall in March.
BITOA chief executive Richard Tobias told TravelMole that the May figures were “disappointing”. He said: “It had looked as though the figures were starting to head northwards. It may be just a blip but we won’t know until we get the figures for June in three or four weeks time.”
He added that it would be “unrealistic” to expect the Jubilee celebrations or the ‘Only in Britain.Only in 2002’ marketing campaign to have a positive impact on June’s figures. He said: “While they have been enormously helpful they have only just launched. We’re hoping to see a positive effect later in the year.”
Mr Tobias said that while visitor numbers from “near European countries” were performing well, it was a lack of visitors from longhaul destinations, particularly North America and Japan that was responsible for the poor May performance.
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