International tourism visits to the United Kingdom fell dramatically in 2020 over the previous year due to the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Current estimates suggest that the number of overseas tourist visits to the UK dropped by 73 percent, going from nearly 40.9 million in 2019 to 11.1 million in 2020. As forecast, the number of overseas visits to the UK is predicted to decline further to 7.4 million in 2021, then to rise significantly in 2022, reaching around 24 million.
Number of overseas resident visits to the United Kingdom (UK) from 2002 to 2020, with a forecast until 2022
(in millions)
*The source specifies that 2020 data are estimated and based on administrative sources and modelling (except for Q1 2020 figures based on the International Passenger Survey (IPS) by the Office for National Statistics.
2021 and 2022 figures have been forecast by Visit Britain as of November 17, 2021, based on the IPS data and a central scenario. Please find here additional information related to the methodology.
The source mentions that "it is very likely that the 2021 forecast will be revised downwards slightly and the 2022 forecast revised downwards more significantly" since they were calculated just before the Omicron COVID-19 variant was discovered and that the updates will depend on the impact of the new variant.
Estimates based on the International Passenger Survey (IPS). Interviews are conducted with passengers arriving and departing from the country and include visits for all purposes, including for vacation, business, study, visiting friends and family, and other leisure purposes. The full year (non-forecast results) are as reported in the Travel Trends reports.
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Office for National Statistics (UK), & VisitBritain. (November 17, 2021). Number of overseas resident visits to the United Kingdom (UK) from 2002 to 2020, with a forecast until 2022 (in millions) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved January 23, 2022, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/287133/annual-number-of-overseas-visits-to-the-united-kingdom-uk/
Office for National Statistics (UK), und VisitBritain. "Number of overseas resident visits to the United Kingdom (UK) from 2002 to 2020, with a forecast until 2022 (in millions)." Chart. November 17, 2021. Statista. Accessed January 23, 2022. https://www.statista.com/statistics/287133/annual-number-of-overseas-visits-to-the-united-kingdom-uk/
Office for National Statistics (UK), VisitBritain. (2021). Number of overseas resident visits to the United Kingdom (UK) from 2002 to 2020, with a forecast until 2022 (in millions). Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: January 23, 2022. https://www.statista.com/statistics/287133/annual-number-of-overseas-visits-to-the-united-kingdom-uk/
Office for National Statistics (UK), and VisitBritain. "Number of Overseas Resident Visits to The United Kingdom (Uk) from 2002 to 2020, with a Forecast until 2022 (in Millions)." Statista, Statista Inc., 17 Nov 2021, https://www.statista.com/statistics/287133/annual-number-of-overseas-visits-to-the-united-kingdom-uk/
Office for National Statistics (UK) & VisitBritain, Number of overseas resident visits to the United Kingdom (UK) from 2002 to 2020, with a forecast until 2022 (in millions) Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/287133/annual-number-of-overseas-visits-to-the-united-kingdom-uk/ (last visited January 23, 2022)
