Fewer residents from the EU visited the UK between May and July this year than in the corresponding period of the previous year.
The latest data released by the Office of National Statistics shows that visits by EU residents decreased by 3 per cent to 6.9 million in this period.
However, this went against the overall trend which saw more overseas visitors arriving in the UK than in the previous year.
Overall, during the period between May to July 2019, there were 10.8 million visits to the UK, which was 1 per cent more than in the corresponding period a year earlier.
There was an increase of 17 per cent in visits to the UK from North American residents to 2 million, while visits from residents of ‘other countries’ (countries outside Europe and North America) increased by 3 per cent to 1.9 million.
Considering the reasons for visiting the UK, the number of business visits increased by 7 per cent to 2.2 million for this period, compared with the previous year, while visits to friends and relatives increased by 1 per cent to 3.1 million. Holiday visits decreased by 1 per cent to 4.7 million.
Meanwhile, fewer Brits took trips abroad during the same period.
During the period May to July 2019, there were 20.1 million visits abroad by UK residents, which was 3 per cent less than the corresponding period a year earlier.
There was a decrease in visits to European countries of 4 per cent to 16.8 million.
Considering the reasons for visits, holiday visits decreased by 2 per cent (to 14.3 million) from the same period in the previous year and business visits decreased by 10 per cent (to 1.6 million), while visits to friends and relatives decreased by 6 per cent (at 3.8 million).
Article published 28th October 2019