Visitor numbers decline

THE OFFICE FOR NATIONAL STATISTICS has released figures which show that the number of visits to the UK fell 9% in the last 12 months compared with a year earlier.  Arrivals by residents of Europe dropped 6% to 22.7m, while those from North America fell 21% to 3.4m.  Visits from other parts of the world fell 11% to 4.2m.  It was much the same in the reverse direction visits to Europe dropping by 12% to 49.6m, while visits to North America fell 19% to 3.9m.  The total number of overseas visits by UK residents fell by 12% to 63m in the 12 months to July, compared to the previous year.  But there are signs of a slight improvement, as during May to July 2009 the seasonally adjusted number of visits by overseas residents to the UK increased 2% to 7.7m when compared with the previous three months.  In August Heathrow had its busiest ever month. www.statistics.gov.uk

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