July 2017 sees the highest results for inbound visits and spend

5th October 2017

Latest monthly data

The latest available data from the International Passenger Survey is available below. This shows the volume and value of visits to the UK by overseas residents for the most recent month and quarter.

The survey is run by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) – monthly data is generally available 7 weeks after the end of each month and quarterly data is generally available 4 months after the close of each quarter. For publication dates and more information, please see about the International Passenger Survey.

Inbound visitor statistics for July 2017

Visits and spend figures

	July 2017		Last 3 months (May - Jul 17)
		% change vs Jul 16		% change vs May - Jul 16		% change vs Jan - Jul 16
All visits (000)	4,020	6%	11,050	4%	23,070	8%
Spend (£m)	£2,750	3%	£6,960	3%	£13,330	9%

	Rolling 12 months (Aug 16 - Jul 17)		Benchmark to best ever rolling 12 months
		% change vs Aug 15 - Jul 16	When	Record	Current deficit
Total visits (000)	39,370	7%	Aug 16 - Jul 17	39,370	0
Spend (£m)	£23,680	7%	Aug 16 - Jul 17	£23,680	0

Visits: The UK welcomed 4.0 million overseas visits in July, up 6% on July last year and setting a new July record. This was the first time, since records began, that the UK welcomed more than 4 million inbound visits in any one calendar month. Between May and July 2017 there were a record 11.1 million inbound visits to the UK, 4% up on the same period last year. The record setting continues over the first seven months of 2016 and the rolling 12 months to July 2017. There were 23.1 million visits to the UK in the first seven months of the year and 39.4 million visits in the 12 months to July 2017 – the best ever rolling 12 month period.
Spending: July 2017 spending rose 3% compared to July 2016 to reach £2.8 billion (a new July record). With record setting results in six of the first seven months of the year (only June did not set a year on year monthly record), inbound visitors spent a record £13.3 billion in the first seven months of 2017, 9% more than the first part of 2016. Over the longer term rolling 12 months to July 2017 visitors to the UK spent a record £23.7 billion in the UK – the highest ever rolling 12 month period.

Visits by journey purpose

	July 2017		Last 3 months (May - Jul 17)		Year to Date (Jan - Jul 17)
	Visits (000)	% change vs Jul 16	Visits (000)	% change vs May - Jul 16	Visits (000)	% change vs Jan - Jul 16
Holiday	1,780	12%	4,860	11%	9,310	19%
VFR	1,210	9%	2,960	-2%	6,720	5%
Business	710	-2%	2,380	0%	5,240	-3%
Miscellaneous	320	-13%	850	-3%	1,800	7%

	Rolling 12 months (Aug 16 - Jul 17)		Benchmark to best ever rolling 12 months
	Visits (000)	% change vs Aug 15 - Jul 16	When	Record (000)	Current deficit (000)
Holiday	15,370	14%	Aug 16 - Jul 17	15,370	0
VFR	11,880	8%	Mar 16 - Apr 17	11,930	-50
Business	9,050	0%	Feb 16 - Jan 17	9,300	-250
Miscellaneous	3,080	-2%	Apr 07 - Mar 08	3,470	-390

Holiday visits were up 12% to a July record of 1.8 million. This is the highest ever month of holiday visits to the UK. The record breaking continues over longer time periods as well. Between May and July 2017 there were 4.9 million holiday visits to the UK (11% more than the same three month period last year). So far this year there have been a record 9.3 million holiday visits – 19% more than this time last year and the latest 12 month period (August 2016-July 2017) is the strongest ever 12 month period for inbound holiday visits.
Visits to friends and relatives (VFR) were up 9% to a July record of 1.2 million this year. Following weaker May results, VFR visits in the last three months are down 2%, but are in positive record breaking territory for the first seven months of 2017 and rolling 12 months to July 2017.
Business visits have been variable so far in 2017, posting negative results in July this year – down 2% compared to July 2016. With only January and May registering growth this year, there were 3% fewer business visits to the UK in the first seven months of 2017, compared to 2016. Due to a strong end of 2016, business results for the 12 months to July 2017 were just enough to match the previous rolling 12 month record posted last year (August 2015 – July 2016).
Miscellaneous journey purpose visits are a combination of a wide range of different journey purposes, including (but not limited to) short term study, looking for work, shopping, attending a sports event and many more. In July 2017 visits to the UK were 13% down on July 2016 results. Visits were down 3% in the last three months of this year but with strong February and March 2017 results, miscellaneous visits were 7% up in the first seven months of 2017, compared to the same period last year (but not a record).

Visits by global region

	July 2017		Last 3 months (May - Jul 17)		Year to Date (Jan - Jul 17)
	Visits (000)	% change vs Jul 16	Visits (000)	% change vs May- Jul 16	Visits (000)	% change vs Jan - Jul 16
EU Total	2,330	3%	6,700	-2%	15,130	4%
EU15	1,890	1%	5,420	-5%	12,350	4%
Other EU	440	14%	1,280	12%	2,780	4%
Rest of Europe	200	18%	630	3%	1,490	14%
North America	650	9%	1,800	24%	2,890	21%
Rest of World	840	11%	1,920	12%	3,560	18%

	Rolling 12 months (Aug 16 - Jul 17)		Benchmark to best ever rolling 12 months
	Visits (000)	% change vs Aug 15 - Jul 16	When	Record (000)	Current deficit (000)
EU Total	26,030	5%	May 16 - Apr 17	26,180	-150
EU15	21,170	4%	May 16 - Apr 17	21,460	-290
Other EU	4,850	6%	Aug 16 - Jul 17	4,850	0
Rest of Europe	2,480	7%	Aug 16 - Jul 17	2,480	0
North America	4,790	19%	Jan 00 - Dec 00	4,870	-80
Rest of World	6,090	8%	Aug 16 - Jul 17	6,090	0

Visits to the UK from all EU markets rose 3% in July 2017 compared to July last year to a record 2.3 million. Over the first seven months of 2017 there were a record 15.1 million visits from these high volume markets, 4% higher than the first seven months of 2016.
Looking specifically at visits from EU15 markets, these were up marginally during July this year although with weaker performances posted in May and June, visits during the three months to July were down 5%, compared to the same three months last year. However, boosted by strong results from January, March and April, visits in the first seven months were up 4% to a record 12.4 million. In the 12 months to July 2017, there were a record 21.2 million visits from EU15 markets, up 4% on the previous 12 months (a new 12 months to July record).
Visits from all Other EU markets were 14% above July 2016, at 440,000 visits – a new July record. Recent results have boosted the inbound visits from Other EU markets to a record 2.8 million visits in the first seven months of 2017. Over the longer term, there have been a record 4.9 million visits between August 2016 and July 2017, up 6% compared to the previous 12 months.
Visit growth from the Rest of Europe was at 18% in July 2017, the fourth month of double digit year on year growth. Buoyed by these strong year on year monthly results, visits for the first seven months of 2017 were up 14% higher than the same time last year to a record setting 1.5 million.
There were a record 650,000 visits to the UK from North America in July and visits from this region have continued to show the strongest growth so far this year. Encouragingly these results see North America visits edging closer to record levels. From January to July 2017 there were 2.9 million visits, 21% up on the start of 2016 and just 96,000 short of the record set in 2000.
Rest of World reported an 11% rise in visits to the UK during July 2017. This is the first month Rest of the World visits to the UK have topped 800,000 in any month and are currently tracking 18% higher in the first seven months of the year, compared to the start of 2016.