Drop in number of overseas visitors heading to Britain

Source: Xinhua| 2018-09-06 03:31:48|Editor: Mu Xuequan
Video PlayerClose

LONDON, Sept. 5 (Xinhua) -- The number of international visitors who arrived in Britain in the first three months of 2018 fell by six percent compared to the same quarter in 2017, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said Wednesday.

But the 7.8 million visitors who did arrive spent nearly 5.7 billion U.S. dollars, a two-percent rise on the amount spent in the same three months a year earlier, added ONS.

Using data collected from the International Passenger Survey, ONS said 2.6 million of the overseas international visitors came to Britain to visit family and friends.

Meanwhile, in the same quarter, British residents, mostly holidaymakers, made 13.3 million overseas visits, six percent less than 2017, spending just over 11 billion U.S. dollars, a slight drop on the amount spent in 2017.

There was an 11 percent decrease in the number of holiday visits to Britain compared with the first quarter of 2017 and a decrease of two percent in visits to friends and relatives.

The remaining overseas visitors were on business trips, which showed a one percent rise compared to 2017.

TOP STORIES
EDITOR’S CHOICE
MOST VIEWED
EXPLORE XINHUANET
010020070750000000000000011105091374477111