United Kingdom visitors fall

UNITED KINGDOM inbound visitors were down by 14% in May according to figures released by the Office of National Statistics.  Spending was reduced by 11%.  For the first five months of the year there were 12% fewer arrivals, which would indicate that things are getting worse although one month’s figures are not substantive. Spending was only down 3% suggesting it is the budget tourist who is missing.  Sterling was (on average) 11% weaker against the Euro and 21% weaker against the US Dollar in May 2009 compared to May 2008, meaning that most visitors’ currencies are going further this year, with each spending more on average.  Visits in the first five months of 2009 from EU countries (that is those nations’ members of the European Union before the 2004 expansion) are down 5% compared to the same period of 2008.  From North America the figure is 19%. www.statistics.gov.uk

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