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London visitor numbers hit record levels

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London’s draw as a tourism magnet continued in the second quarter of the year with a 6% rise in foreign visitors to a record 5.1 million.


Tourist spending in the capital over the same period was £3.2 billion, up 8% on the April to June period last year, according to the Office for National Statistics International Passenger Survey.


The latest figures mean that the number of overseas visitors to London has risen by 22.5% over the past five years.


The national picture was also positive with 9.9 million international visitors to the UK in the three months, a rise of 5% year-on-year. More than half of these international visits to the UK were to London.


Overall tourist spending across the UK was £5.8 billion, a 7% increase compared with the second quarter of 2014.


The latest figures follow on from a record-breaking 2014 when London attracted 17.4 million overseas visitors, spending £11.8 billion.


Overseas visitor arrivals in London are forecast to reach 18.82 million this year, putting the city ahead of Bangkok and Paris.


London mayor Boris Johnson said: “These numbers prove that our great capital is without a doubt the best place on earth to visit.


“People come from around the world to experience our unique mix of history, culture, shopping and world-class events.


“With our spectacular autumn season of culture and the Rugby World Cup having put London in the spotlight once again, we’ll undoubtedly be welcoming even more tourists to London in the months ahead.”


Gordon Innes, chief executive at London & Partners, the capital’s official promotional organization, added: “The positive figures for the second quarter of 2015 bode well for another year of strong visitor numbers and spend across the city’s museums and art galleries, attractions, restaurants and hotels.”


The capital will add another major event to its calendar in January with a free outdoor light festival, Lumiere London, featuring an array of light installations.

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