UKinbound has welcomed the latest inbound tourism data from the Office of National Statistics but acknowledges is still short of pre-pandemic levels.
According to ONS data, the UK welcomed 38 million inbound visits, still 7% below 2019 levels.
Still, it represents a 21% rise on 2022.
Inbound visitors spent a record £31.1bn during 2023, which is up 9% on 2019 although this is still 10% down when taking into account for inflation.
“I am pleased to see positive growth figures for the UK inbound tourism industry in 2023 but we are still chasing a return to 2019 prosperity,” said Joss Croft OBE, CEO of UKinbound.
“International tourism is a competitive industry, and the UK should be more ambitious about the significant role that it can play in economic growth.”
“Following the launch of our manifesto earlier this week, we are calling on the current and future government to back this valuable export industry and remove barriers to growth,” Croft added.
The UK is forecast to receive 39.5 million inbound visitors in 2024 – 97% of 2019 levels.
They are expected to spend £34.1 billion, 96% of 2019 when adjusted for inflation according to VisitBritain data.
Inbound tourism the UK’s second largest service export industry.
