Increasing visits by Western European tourists helped bolster the hospitality sector in the UK in the three months to June, according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics.

A total of 7.7 million overseas visits were made to the UK during the period, one percent up on the previous three months and a 13% jump on the same period a year ago.

For the 12 months to June the total number of overseas visits to the UK increased 12% year-on-year from 26.2 million to 29.3 million. Western European visits increased 11% year-on-year to 18.9 million.

However, North American’s stayed away with visitor figures for the year dropping one per cent to 4.2 million.

The difference between what UK tourists spend overseas and what overseas tourists spend here was reduced in the three months to June by £26.

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