Inbound visits to friends and family in the UK 2020

The annual number of international visits to friends and family in the United Kingdom (UK) decreased remarkably in 2020 over the previous year, as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Overall, the number of overseas visits to friends and family in the UK reached roughly 3.45 million in 2020, dropping from over 12 million in 2019.

Number of overseas visits to see friends and family in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2011 to 2020 (in millions)

Characteristic	Visits in millions
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Release date

May 2021

More information

Region

United Kingdom

Survey time period

2011 to 2020

Method of interview

Face-to-face interview

Supplementary notes

Data can be found under Table 1.03 in the source's Excel sheet.

These figures represent the annual estimates of overseas travel to the United Kingdom, based on interviews with passengers upon entering or leaving the UK by the main air, sea and tunnel routes.

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 data for 2019 was produced using a new improved estimation method. Figures from 2009 to 2018 shown here have been revised according to the new method. The impact of the improved methodology can be viewed here. Due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the Office for National Statistics relied on administrative sources of passenger travel data for the period covering April to December 2020.

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