Fewer people visited the UK in the third quarter of the year despite the Olympic Games.
A total of 8.9 million arrivals in the three months of summer was 3% down on the same period in 2011.
At the same time the number of trips made abroad rose by 0.3% to 19.3 million.
Figures from the Office for National Statistics show that there was no change in the number of visits abroad by UK residents in the first nine months of 2012 but they spent 4% more over the same period a year earlier. Visits to North America fell by 4%.
The number of inbound visits returned to growth in November, up 9% compared with the same month in 2011. Visits during January to November 2012 were broadly in line with 2011, while earnings from these visits grew 3% in absolute terms.
Trips abroad by UK residents rose 1% in November and in 2012 to date were unchanged from 2011. Expenditure abroad in 2012 was 3% higher than in 2011.
But holiday visits were “subdued”. Those to the UK by overseas residents and those abroad by UK residents were both down 2% in the year to November. Business visits and those to see friends or relatives were both higher than in 2011.
A total of 470,000 overseas visitors came to the UK with a “primary purpose” of watching or participating in the Olympics or Paralympics in the quarter.
A further 215,000 people attended a ticketed Olympics or Paralympics event although their main purpose for visit was not related to the Olympics, according to estimates drawn from the International Passenger Survey conducted by the ONS.
The combined figure of 685,000 visits represents approximately 8% of the typical visit volume in the third quarter.
“Despite this inflow of Olympics-related visits less people visited the UK in quarter 3,” the ONS said. “The total of 8.9 million visits (for any purpose) to the UK by overseas residents was 3% lower than in the same period in 2011.”
Travellers who came to the UK for the Olympics spent an average of £1,510 on the visit including any tickets bought in advance or during the visit, which is more than double the average £720 spend.
This resulted in quarterly earnings to the UK being 8% higher than the same three months in 2011.
“In combination with an increase of 4% in spending abroad by UK residents, the deficit to the UK associated with overseas travel and tourism was £5.3 million, unchanged from quarter 3 2011,” the ONS said.
London received less overnight visits from overseas residents, down by 200,000 from 4.4 million to 4.2 million.
But spending associated with overnight visits to London increased by 13% from £2.8 billion to £3.1 billion. Spending on Olympics and Paralympics tickets will have accounted for a part of this increase, according to the ONS.
Visits to the rest of England and Scotland also fell, but not those to Wales.
Spending in the rest of England was 5% higher than a year earlier at £2.3 billion, in Scotland 8% lower at £0.6 billion and in Wales spending was unchanged at £0.1 billion.
VisitBritain said the statistics for November show the country is on track for 31 million visits by the end 2012.
Strategy director Patricia Yates said: “To have the best November in five years is some achievement as 2012 was no ordinary year for inbound tourism.
“We expect to reach our forecast of 31 million visits for the full year (2012), giving us the perfect foundation to see continued strong growth in international tourism in 2013 contributing revenue to the UK economy and creating new jobs across Britain.”