The number of people visiting the UK on holiday saw a decline of 5.3% in 2018. This was contrary to the predictions and bucked the global travel trend, which saw worldwide international arrivals increase 6% year on year.
Globally, tourist arrival figures were highest in the Middle East up 10%, Asia and Europe both up 6%. Growth has been driven by stable fuel prices, improved air links between destinations and strong outbound travel from emerging markets including Russia and the Middle East and some smaller Asian and Arab countries
In contrast, the UK saw a decline of 5.3% in overseas tourists and a 2.3% fall in spending, despite earlier suggestions that a record year in 2017 would continue into 2018.
The drop in tourism to the UK has been attributed to a fall in interest among Europeans, who account for two-thirds of overseas visitors. Research by VisitBritain showed that interest in visiting the UK since the Brexit referendum fell from 76% in August 2016 to 69% in autumn 2018.
