Visits to the UK have almost doubled in the past 25 years but spending has not kept pace, according to a new report from tourism body VisitBritain.

Although the number of foreign tourists has grown by 122% to more than 27 million in the past quarter-century, their total spend has increased by just 40% in real terms.

The lack of spend pushed the tourism sector from a £2b surplus in 1979 into a £17m deficit in 2004 - when the amount spent here by visiting tourists is compared with the sum spent by Britons abroad.

The average spend per head for each inbound visit has plummeted from more than £740 (in today’s money) in 1979 to just £470 in 2004.

Tourist are also spending less time in the UK, with the average stay shrinking from 12.5 nights in 1979 to about eight nights in 2004.

For 2006 VisitBritain is predicting a 4.4% rise in the number of inbound visits, to 30.6 million.

The amount spent by foreign tourists is expected to increase by 4.3% to £14.5b.

By Angela Frewin

Get your copy of Caterer and Hotelkeeper every week - click here to subscribe and save 25%.