The number of inbound visits to the United Kingdom (UK) dropped sharply during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. In 2021, most inbound tourist visits to the UK concerned visits to friends or relatives. That year, the number of visits for this purpose totaled around 3.3 million, dropping from roughly 12.4 million in 2019. Meanwhile, the United Kingdom only recorded 1.1 million inbound holiday visits in 2021, while it reported nearly 17 million inbound vacation visits in 2019. Overall, data for 2021 mainly refer to air passengers since it was not possible to conduct passenger surveys at the Eurotunnel and UK ports. Figures from the port of Dover were included only from the third quarter of the year.
Number of overseas resident visits to the United Kingdom (UK) from 2019 to 2021, by purpose of trip
(in millions)
*The source specifies that the International Passenger Survey (IPS) published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) was suspended on March 16, 2020, due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Thus, 2020 figures are based on administrative sources and modeling, except for Q1 2020 data that is based on the IPS. Please find here additional information related to the methodology.
**The source adds the following: "During the first half of 2021 (January to June 2021), the IPS survey was operational at UK airports only. In ordinary times surveying would also be conducted at UK tunnel terminals (Eurostar and Eurotunnel) as well as some UK sea ports (e.g. Dover), but this was not possible during this period". Dover traffic was only included from the third quarter of the year.
2019 figures are based on the International Passenger Survey (IPS).
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Office for National Statistics (UK), & VisitBritain. (June 15, 2022). Number of overseas resident visits to the United Kingdom (UK) from 2019 to 2021, by purpose of trip (in millions) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved July 04, 2022, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/287826/number-of-global-visits-to-the-united-kingdom-uk-by-purpose-of-trip/
Office for National Statistics (UK), und VisitBritain. "Number of overseas resident visits to the United Kingdom (UK) from 2019 to 2021, by purpose of trip (in millions)." Chart. June 15, 2022. Statista. Accessed July 04, 2022. https://www.statista.com/statistics/287826/number-of-global-visits-to-the-united-kingdom-uk-by-purpose-of-trip/
Office for National Statistics (UK), VisitBritain. (2022). Number of overseas resident visits to the United Kingdom (UK) from 2019 to 2021, by purpose of trip (in millions). Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: July 04, 2022. https://www.statista.com/statistics/287826/number-of-global-visits-to-the-united-kingdom-uk-by-purpose-of-trip/
Office for National Statistics (UK), and VisitBritain. "Number of Overseas Resident Visits to The United Kingdom (Uk) from 2019 to 2021, by Purpose of Trip (in Millions)." Statista, Statista Inc., 15 Jun 2022, https://www.statista.com/statistics/287826/number-of-global-visits-to-the-united-kingdom-uk-by-purpose-of-trip/
Office for National Statistics (UK) & VisitBritain, Number of overseas resident visits to the United Kingdom (UK) from 2019 to 2021, by purpose of trip (in millions) Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/287826/number-of-global-visits-to-the-united-kingdom-uk-by-purpose-of-trip/ (last visited July 04, 2022)
