In what was a memorable year for Britain, new analysis released by the national tourism agency show that 2012 continued the upward thrust within the variety of overseas visitors trying to experience the best of what Britain has to present.
Unsurprisingly, London was the star performer in a year during which it became the 1st city to ever host three modern Olympics. A year of celebrations, which included the Diamond Jubilee and the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad, provided visitors with a myriad of activities to enjoy alongside the capital’s already impressive tourist offer, with nearly 15.5 million visitors from worldwide came to London in 2012. This accounted for half all visits to the united kingdom and reconfirmed London’s status as probably the most visited cities on earth.
Scotland’s two biggest cities see the Scots well represented. Edinburgh – home to more Michelin starred restaurants than another portion of the united kingdom outside London – was in second place at the table with 1.3 million visits, while Glasgow (521,000) at sixth gained nearly 10% more visits in comparison to 2011. Inverness (213,000) and Aberdeen (208,000) also feature within the Top 20 most visited destinations.
South of Hadrian’s Wall, Manchester (932,000) maintained its solid overseas visitor numbers, followed by Birmingham (713,000) after which a resurgent Liverpool (550,000), who’ve visitor numbers last witnessed when it was European City of Culture. Within the battle of Oxbridge, Oxford (430,000) repeated its feat on this year’s Boat Race by staying in advance of Cambridge (398,000), although a three% rise in visits means Cambridge has narrowed the space to simply 32,000 since 2011 and means it just pips Bristol (395,000).
Along with Team GB, the Olympic year saw Brighton & Hove witness a record haul with 345,000 international visitors heading to the laid-back south coast beach front also famed for its superb shopping, vibrant nightlife and eclectic royal palace. The Royal County of Berkshire rounds out the pinnacle 20 table, with Reading (196,000) heralding its return to the higher echelons by overtaking Windsor (182,000).
Across in Wales, Cardiff (301,000) has moved up the leader board, with 41,000 more visits to the Welsh capital than in 2010. Bragging rights with neighbours Swansea (67,000) will undoubtedly intensify as Cardiff City get set to play within the Barclays Premier League for the primary time next season.
Meanwhile, the Dorset town of Bournemouth (178,000) might be hoping that its healthy gains in 2012 may be replicated again this year. The coastal retreat welcomed a 38% increase in overseas visits last year, propelling it up the table and only just being edged out from returning to the pinnacle 20, something it hasn’t been in since 2000. Elsewhere, Penzance welcomed a 68% rise in visits from 2011, and Ipswich was up 43%.
As well as providing overall visitor numbers, analysis of the 2012 figures also provides useful insight at the appeal of Britain’s regions, towns and cities among key inbound markets.
2012 proved to be an awesome year from the highly sort after BRIC markets.(2) There has been a 30% rise within the variety of BRIC visits to Scotland (82,000 overall). Of this, Edinburgh witnessed a ten% rise and Glasgow 54%. Wales saw an 18% rise from the BRICs and South West England welcomed a 12% increase. London recorded a 4% rise, although this still equated to a considerable variety of visits (706,000).
Remaining the head market, nearly double the quantity of tourists from america (198,000) went to Edinburgh than those from France (101,000), this despite a 26% increase within the collection of French visiting the Scottish capital. Glasgow saw a 31% rise in visits from the U.S..
The latest data also revealed:
* 2012 saw more overseas visitors head to Stirling (+22%), Harrogate (+22%) and Salisbury (+10%).
* A good 87% rise within the selection of Germans who stayed in Bournemouth.
* Aberdeen attracts more Norwegian visitors and in York it’s Australians who’re fans.
* Manchester had a ten% rise from the collection of Germans heading to the north west city, while there has been also a 27% increase from Poland and 66% visits from The Netherlands.
* Around double the quantity from Ireland pop across to Liverpool than there are those getting back from Spain (the 2nd most frequent visitors to town). The Irish also are the number 1 guests in Manchester, Birmingham and Newcastle.
* There has been a 25% increase within the selection of US visitors exploring the UNESCO World Heritage Site of tub.
Patricia Yates, Director of Strategy & Communications at VisitBritain said: “Last year we welcomed 31 million overseas visitors and hope to draw a million more in 2013. We’re particularly encouraged by the ongoing strong growth from the influential BRIC markets and their like to visit locations around the UK. These tourists are attracted by Britain’s rich culture and heritage, the vibrancy of our towns and cities and the great thing about our countryside, something we’ve got in abundance.
“2012 has certainly helped change the world’s perceptions of england, and there’s real potential for us to draw 40 million international visitors a year by 2020, an achievement with the intention to mean more visitors are travelling to London and beyond. However, we are facing intense competition from other destinations wanting to attract more visitors. Meaning we have to work better and smarter if we’re to secure an extended-term legacy for tourism and the rustic.”
Minister for Tourism Hugh Robertson said: “We showcased the best possible of england last year encouraging overseas visitors to come back and spot for themselves what our great country has to supply. i’m encouraged that destinations across Britain have seen visitor numbers rise and we can do all we will to maintain that momentum. Tourism spend is up and i’m confident that the industry can keep growing and increase its contribution to the economy further.”