A rising number of overseas visitors to the UK Christmas and into the new year reflects the strength of the tourism sector.
The message came from tourism minister Michael Ellis as VisitBritain revealed a 9% increase in forward inbound flight bookings between December 23 and January 5 over the same period last year.
Ellis said: “The UK is one of the world’s must-visit destinations and the increase in forward bookings reflects the strength of our tourism sector.
“We are committed to supporting this important industry and are progressing negotiations for a tourism sector deal to drive long-term economic growth and investment in accommodation and attractions across the country.”
Forward bookings to the UK from China, the Middle East and the United States are all showing double-digit increases, up 44%, 59% and 27% respectively.
The increase in bookings from some of the UK’s most valuable long-haul visitor markets echoes a longer-term trend, according to the tourist agency.
Forward bookings from the US to the UK for December to May 2019 are up 27% compared to the same period previously.
The US is the UK’s most valuable inbound market with tourism spend of £3.6 billion in 2017 as arrivals grew 13% to 3.9 million, the highest since 2000.
Bookings from China, the world’s most valuable outbound visitor market, are up 25% for December to May after reaching 337,000 last year.
Bookings are also tracking ahead by high spending travellers from the Middle East, up 10% for December to May. Visitors from the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) countries spent £2,733 on average in the UK in 2017, more than four times the overall average of £625.
VisitBritain director Patricia Yates said: “Tourism is one of the UK’s most valuable export industries and needs no trade deals to attract overseas investment.
“It is also a fiercely competitive global industry and people have a lot of choice.
“We want the UK to be the number one destination for global travellers so it is great to see forward bookings looking strong in the coming weeks and months from some of our most valuable long-haul visitor markets.”