Following the sharp drop in inbound visits to the United Kingdom (UK) during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2022 saw a partial return to the volume of overseas visits recorded before the pandemic. That year, most inbound tourist visits to the UK were made by holidaymakers, who totaled over 12 million. This figure was over double the combined number of holidaymakers from overseas during 2020 and 2021, however, it was 29 percent less than the amount recorded in 2019. The least-cited purpose among overseas visitors to the UK in 2022 was to study, making up just over one percent of total inbound visits.
Number of overseas resident visits to the United Kingdom (UK) from 2019 to 2022, 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. (May 26, 2023). Number of overseas resident visits to the United Kingdom (UK) from 2019 to 2022, by purpose of trip (in millions) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved December 03, 2024, 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 2022, by purpose of trip (in millions)." Chart. May 26, 2023. Statista. Accessed December 03, 2024. 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. (2023). Number of overseas resident visits to the United Kingdom (UK) from 2019 to 2022, by purpose of trip (in millions). Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: December 03, 2024. 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 2022, by Purpose of Trip (in Millions)." Statista, Statista Inc., 26 May 2023, 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 2022, 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 December 03, 2024)
Number of overseas resident visits to the United Kingdom (UK) from 2019 to 2022, by purpose of trip (in millions) [Graph], Office for National Statistics (UK), & VisitBritain, May 26, 2023. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/287826/number-of-global-visits-to-the-united-kingdom-uk-by-purpose-of-trip/