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EconomyTourism

UK sees record number of overseas visits and spend in April

New figures from VisitBritain show that April was a record month for the number of overseas visits to the UK and spend.

Some 3.7million visits were made to the UK in April, up 19% when compared to the same period last year. Overseas visitors spent £2bn, up 20% on last year.

Figures from the year’s first quarter (Jan to Feb) showed there was a record 11.8million inbound visits an increase of 11% on last year and the spend was £6.2bn, up 14%.

Most of the growth in inbound visits have come from the US with more than one million visits in the first quarter, up 16% compared to the first quarter of 2016. There was also a record number of 8.3million visits from the EU an increase of 7%.

Patricia Yates, director of VisitBritain, said: “Tourism is one of Britain’s most valuable export industries and it is very encouraging to see this continued growth as we head into the peak summer season and beyond.

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“We continue to drive home the message of value and welcome globally, particularly in our high spending markets China and the US and the valuable European market.”

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