The number of foreign tourists visiting the UK saw its
biggest fall in 20 years in 2001, according to the National Statistics
Office, particularly from US, who are traditionally the UK’s biggest
visitor group.

The impact of September 11 and the foot-and-mouth outbreak
contributed to the sharp decline, which saw a £1.5bn drop in the amount
spent by visitors to the UK. Visitor numbers fell 9% to 22.8m. Because
more Britons chose to holiday overseas, rather than stay in the UK, they
spent £14bn more than the amount spent by tourists in the UK.

Visitors from nearby European countries, Spain, Germany
etc., have come back to holiday in the UK quite quickly, but the high
spending US and Japanese markets are not so quick to return.

The British Tourist Authority (BTA) recently announced
a long-term plan to increase the UK's income from tourism. Their “Leading
the World to Britain” campaign aims to build on emerging markets
in eastern Europe and the Far East, as well as putting more emphasis on
the distinctiveness of Britain's three nations, and increasing UK
tourism's Internet presence.