There was evidence of an improvement in visitor numbers to Britain in May, but figures remain 20% behind 2000.
The Office for National Statistics reported 1.8 million visitors to the UK in May. This is 6% behind the same month in 2002 and 21% behind 2000 figures – considered to be the last ‘normal year’.
The greatest proportion of the UK’s visitors still come from Western Europe, which VisitBritain attributes to the increasing popularity of short breaks and the influence of no-frills carriers. Visits from the US remained depressed in May, at 9% behind last year and 22% behind 2000.
VisitBritain chief executive, Tom Wright said: “While these results are cause for cautious optimism, we are still some way from the visitor levels achieved in 2000 – tourism’s peak year.”
Read our previous stories:
10-Jun-2003 April visitor numbers at three year low
30-Apr-2003 UK still biggest market for US
15-Apr-2003 Planning on the agenda for tourism
