39.5 Million Tourists Expected to Spend £34.1 Billion in UK in 2024

39.5 million tourists are expected to visit the United Kingdom this year and spend about £34.1 billion ($43.4 billion), according to the British Tourist Authority (BTA).

Based on this forecast, this year, the number of tourists and their spending in the UK will increase compared to 2023, VisaGuide.World reports.

Last year, American tourists spent a record-breaking amount in the UK, leading to the recovery of tourism. According to BTA, the spending was 28 percent higher than in 2019, even after adjusting for inflation.

Henceforth this year, BTA predicts that American visitors will spend around £6.7 billion ($8.5 billion), making up almost £1 in every £5 spent by international visitors.

Furthermore, BTA noted that China, as the UK’s second most valuable inbound market in 2019, has been constantly recovering, with visitor numbers rising during 2023.

Despite a relatively slower recovery in overall East Asia, it forecasts that China will become the UK’s fourth most valuable inbound visitor market, reaching a value of £1.7 billion in 2024.

Patricia Yates, the CEO of VisitBritain, expressed satisfaction with the increase in spending from the US tourists and the overall growth forecast for 2023. However, this year she noted a slowdown in the recovery pace compared to the start in the first half of 2023, highlighting competition from European neighbors.

To drive spending to Britain our international campaigns will remain focused on those markets showing strong growth, including Australia and the US, and we’ll continue to compete hard in our major European markets and the valuable Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.

Patricia Yates, CEO of Visit Britain / BTA

In an effort to attract more tourists, BTA, which also operates under brand names Visit Britain and VisitEngland, has set Great Britain marketing campaigns to run across Australia, France, Germany, the GCC and the US.

Its 2024 campaigns are using screen tourism to spotlight Britain’s regional diversity, promoting film and TV locations to drive visits.

Our global GREAT Britain campaigns are showcasing our vibrant cities, contemporary culture and beautiful coast and countryside, inspiring visitors to discover more of Britain, stay longer and to come now.

Patricia Yates, CEO of Visit Britain / BTA

She also noted that they want more places in Britain to benefit economically from tourism.

Additionally, BTA pointed out that the tourism sector is among the most successful industries in the country, ranking as the third-largest service export and a key part of British trade.

In September last year, the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) forecasted that by the end of 2023, the UK travel and tourism sector will surpass 2019 levels.

However, BTA predicts that the number of visits and spending by international visitors will return to the levels seen in 2019 by early 2025.