Visits from Western Europe to the UK hit a record high in 2005, according to the Office for National Statistics.

In the 12 months ended December 2005, overseas visits to the UK rose 8% to 30 million (2004: 27.8 million).

Collectively visitors spent £14.3b (and increase of 9%), although average individual spend continued to fall from a high of £503 in 2000 to £466.

A record-breaking 19.3 million visitors came from Western Europe during the period (up 8% year-on-year), with visits from the rest of the world – excluding the USA - up 18% to 6.4 million.

North Americans continued to stay away from the UK with visits declining 3% to 4.2 million.

UK citizens made 66.3 million visits abroad during the year, up from 64.2 million.

Chief executive of tourist body Visit Britain, Tom Wright, described the performance as a strong result but said: “We face a challenge in encouraging visitors to stay longer and spend more while they are here.”

“In the face of an increasingly competitive global tourism environment, we must continue to explore ever-more creative means of attracting international visitors to Britain.”

By Chris Druce

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