Hansard

Tourism: Balance of Payments

Volume 472: debated on Thursday 21 February 2008

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Mr. Hunt

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the balance of payments was for the tourism industry in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement. (187642)

Margaret Hodge

The tourism balance of payments deficit was as follows:

Amount (£ billion)

1997

4.8

1998

6.8

1999

9.5

2000

11.4

2001

14.0

2002

15.2

2003

16.7

2004

17.3

2005

18.1

2006

18.4

The latest Office of National Statistics figures, released on 15 February, show that the deficit was down by £120 million in the three months to December 2007, compared to the same period in 2006.