Record tourists visit UK In June

June saw record numbers of tourists visit the UK, according to new figures from Visit Britain.

Figures from the latest International Passenger Survey (IPS) show that 2.89 million overseas visitors came to Britain in June, up 9% on the previous year and an increase of 4% from the previous record June in 2005.

Tourist expenditure also defied the recession to break records with a total spend of £1.685b, an increase of 4% on 2010 - which in itself had been a record-breaking year.

Patricia Yates, VisitBritain's director of strategy and communications, said: "This is an encouraging sign for tourism across Britain, and shows that the UK is very much open for business and making the most of the opportunity presented by hosting next year Olympics.

Visitors from parts of the world other than Europe and North America were up by 10% on the previous year at 4.6 million. Yates added: ""Perhaps the most exciting trend emerging at present has been the increasing number of visitors who are coming to Britain from parts of the world beyond Europe and North America."

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By Emily Manson

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