UK Visitor Numbers Boosted By Slump In Pound
Flights to the UK have risen in the four weeks since the EU vote with international visitors attracted by the cheaper pound.
Monday 8 August 2016 19:42, UK
The slump in the pound since the Brexit vote has produced an immediate boost for UK tourism with flight bookings into the country up on last year, according to a new report.
Sterling fell by about 10% against both the US dollar and the euro in the wake of the referendum, making trips to Britain cheaper for international visitors.
International net bookings rose 4.3% in the 28 days to 21 July according to travel information firm ForwardKeys.
It reverses a trend in the month before the referendum when bookings were 2.8% lower.
ForwardKeys chief executive Olivier Jager said: "Brexit had an immediate, positive impact on inbound tourism to the UK, which is converting into better than anticipated arrivals."
A rise in UK visitors attracted by the cheaper pound could translate to a better summer for tourist attractions, restaurants, hotels and shops - who are already expecting to benefit from a growth in domestic "staycation" breaks as Britain's consumers tighten their belts amid Brexit uncertainty.
The ForwardKeys figures showed bookings from outside Europe up 8.6% in the four weeks after the poll, having been down 0.1% in the month before. The rise was driven by visitors from Hong Kong, the US and Canada.
Bookings from Europe were 1.8% lower, an improvement on the 6.8% decline recorded in the pre-Brexit month.