Tourism figures are up

Licensees suffering the effects of a drop in tourists could be about to see a change in their fortunes.

The latest figures have revealed that overseas tourism was up in June, with an eight per cent increase in visitors to the UK over the same month last year.

However, the figures from the Office for National Statistics showed that visitors spent an average of seven per cent a head less, with the total spend for the month just over £1bn.

VisitBritain, formed earlier this year through the merger of the British Tourist Authority and English Tourism Council, said the figures marked the busiest June for tourism since records began.

Tom Wright, chief executive of the recently formed official tourism body VisitBritain, said: "The June figures are very encouraging. Forward bookings also look more positive and combined with the number of British people holidaying at home this year, we can conclude that the prospects for UK tourism are much improved this summer."

Mike Clayton, chief executive of Lake District brewer and pub operator Jennings Brothers, welcomed the upward trend. He said: "This is good news, and certainly a marked difference from the early part of the year, when all the evidence is that the number of visitors, particularly those from the US, were down.

"It's hard to separate the overseas visitors from the general upturn in trade due to the good weather, and of course we're now into the UK holiday season, but certainly our licensees are telling us that trading is better."