Skip to main content

Visitor Numbers

Volume 301: debated on Wednesday 24 September 1997

The text on this page has been created from Hansard archive content, it may contain typographical errors.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the impact on visitor numbers to the United Kingdom from (a) within and (b) outside the EU, of the introduction of a single currency not including the United Kingdom. [16792]

Many factors influence the numbers of visitors to the UK, and it is difficult to quantify the effect of each factor. Anything which eases the movement of people is generally seen by the industry to be positive. The travel and tourism industry is represented on the Business Advisory Group established by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer to consider the practical implications of the single currency for businesses, whether or not the United Kingdom joins. A report summarising the Advisory Group's work will be published early in 1998.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many visitors to the United Kingdom were from (a) the Far East, (b) the EU and (c) the USA in each of the last two years; and if he will make a statement on trends in visitor numbers. [16790]

In 1995 and 1996, the number of visits made to the UK by residents of the Far East, the EU and the USA was as follows (in millions of visits):

Million
19951996
Far East1.71.6
EU13.915.5
USA3.13.1