UK outbound and inbound tourism statistics report

Whether you’re planning your next trip to the UK or looking to make the most of your visit, this updated tourism report reveals more than just numbers. It shows who’s coming to the UK, where they’re going, and how much they’re spending.

If you're a smart traveler seeking to save money, avoid crowded routes, or maximize every experience on a budget, these insights will help you make sharper decisions. From regional spending patterns to seasonal visitor peaks, this report breaks down when and where to go for better deals, shorter lines, and deeper cultural experiences.

Dive in to discover what’s shaping travel to the UK in 2024 and 2025, and how you can turn that knowledge into a better trip!

 

Key findings:

• UK residents are projected to make over 92 million outbound trips in 2025.


• UK outbound tourism reached over 90 million trips in 2024.


• The UK is expected to welcome 43.4 million overseas visitors in 2025.


• The UK welcomed 41.2 million overseas visitors in 2024.


• UK tourists are projected to spend £69.2 billion on outbound tourism in 2025.


• UK tourists spent an estimated £62.7 billion on outbound tourism in 2024.

 

UK outbound travel

Let’s take a look at the change of UK outbound travel over time:

• Outbound tourism is projected to hit 92 million in 2025, the highest number ever recorded.


• Tourist departures collapsed to 20 million in 2021, the lowest point in over two decades.


• From 2021 to 2025, outbound tourism grew by 360%, marking the fastest recovery on record.

This explosive rebound in outbound tourism reflects a deeper global shift: the renewed prioritization of personal experiences over possessions, as people increasingly invest in travel after years of restricted movement. For us as travelers, this translates into greater demand and rising prices, but also richer opportunities, if we plan with timing and insight.

And now let's take a look at UK outbound tourism statistics by examining the year-over-year percentage change in the number of outbound tourists from the UK.

• UK outbound tourism collapsed by 75.9% in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.


• UK outbound tourism rebounded with a 75% increase in 2022 and an 85.7% surge in 2023, marking a strong post-COVID recovery.

For us as travelers, this means we’re entering a new era where demand continues to grow even after full recovery, driving up costs and crowding.

We should:

1. Book trips well in advance to secure better prices and availability.


2. Travel during shoulder seasons to avoid peak congestion and inflated costs.


3. Use real-time tourism data to choose less crowded, better-value destinations.

 

Why do tourists visit the UK?

• The top reason overseas visitors came to the UK in Q2 2024 was for holidays, accounting for 41.8% of all visits.


• Visiting friends or relatives was the second most common reason, making up 30.5% of total inbound travel.

For the UK, the fact that most inbound visitors come for holidays or to reconnect with loved ones points to a future shaped by emotionally driven, experience-based travel. As travelers, this opens the door to richer, more personal journeys, but also greater crowding in iconic spots. Free tours stand out in this landscape as a smart way to explore more meaningfully without overspending, especially in cities where local guides can reveal stories and places that go far beyond the tourist checklist.

And later in the article we will share the insights about the regions that are less crowded and provide unique travel opportunities for travel enthusiasts like you!

 

Where do Brits go on holiday?

Let’s check the top destinations among the UK citizens:

• In 2024, 12.48 million UK tourists visited Spain, almost equal to the combined total for France (6.38M), Italy (3.41M), and the USA (3.04M), which together received 12.83 million UK visitors.


• The top 5 countries (Spain, France, Italy, USA, and Republic of Ireland) accounted for 27.88 million trips, or nearly 50% of all outbound UK tourism to the listed destinations.


• India (1.89M) was the third most visited non-European country after the USA (3.04M) and Morocco (1.23M), ranking ahead of popular European destinations like Belgium (1.05M) and Austria (0.75M).

This suggests an overlooked truth: travel is driven more by habit than opportunity. For savvy travelers, this creates a strategic advantage. High-traffic countries tend to become saturated with commercialized experiences, while equally rich destinations receive far less pressure. The fact that India ranks above Austria and Belgium, despite its distance, points to a growing appetite for immersive, long-haul journeys that offer more depth per mile. 

• If you're from the UK and want to skip the usual overcrowded spots, head to Belgium’s Bruges or Ghent, where free walking tours let you explore fairy-tale streets, hidden alleys, and local flavors without the tourist overload.


• Also, try Austria’s Graz or Salzburg, where free tours reveal layers of music, history, and alpine charm far from the usual Vienna trail.

Let’s also analyze the most popular regions among UK tourists:

• UK residents made over 134 million trips to Europe in 2024, accounting for nearly 90% of all outbound travel.


• UK visits to North America (3.47M) were just 2.5% of total outbound trips in 2024.


• Travel to non-European, non-North American destinations reached 13 million, almost four times higher than trips to North America.

Europe’s dominance goes beyond proximity: it offers a rich mix of vibrant cultures, diverse landscapes, and thousands of free tours across cities big and small. For you as a UK traveler, it’s the perfect region to explore deeply and affordably, one walk and one story at a time.

 

Spending by UK residents on travel abroad

• UK outbound tourism spending is expected to reach £69.2 billion in 2025.


• In 2024, UK tourists spent an estimated £62.7 billion on trips abroad.

 

In which countries do UK tourists spend the most?

• UK tourists spent the most in Spain in 2024, with £9.18 billion, more than France (£6.21B) and USA (£5.61B).


• Spain, France, and the USA alone accounted for 34% of all UK outbound tourism spending across the top 20 destinations.


• UK tourists spent more in Portugal (£2.36B) than in Greece (£2.04B), despite Greece being a major holiday destination.


• Spending in India (£1.78B) topped that in Germany (£1.76B), showing the strength of UK–India travel ties.


• UK visitors spent more in Morocco (£828M) than in Romania (£825M) and Switzerland (£712M), highlighting the growing popularity of North African destinations.

Although fewer UK tourists visit the USA than Italy, they spend significantly more. A single long-haul trip to an expensive destination like the US can cost more than several short-haul holidays, so travelers should plan budgets and timing with precision.

 

How many people go to the UK?

Now, let’s analyze the inbound part of the UK’s tourism.

 

Number of tourists to the UK by year

• Foreign visits to the UK are projected to reach 12.5 million in Q3 2025, the highest quarterly figure since before the pandemic.


• The pandemic low of 245,000 visitors in Q1 2021 contrasts sharply with the projected 12.5 million in Q3 2025, showing a 51-fold recovery.


• Tourist numbers in Q3 2025 are expected to be more than five times higher than in Q3 2020, when just 2.3 million visited.

This dramatic recovery shows that the UK has fully regained its appeal as a global travel destination. For travelers, it signals a renewed energy in cities, more vibrant free tour options, and the return of cultural events that had vanished during the pandemic years.

 

UK visitors by country of residence

• The USA was the top source of UK inbound tourism in Q2 2024, with 1.57 million visitors, making up 15.7% of all arrivals.


• Spain brought in 657,000 visitors, placing it behind France, Germany, and Ireland despite being one of the UK's most popular outbound destinations.


• India ranked as the top non-Western country, sending 229,000 visitors to the UK, ahead of the UAE and Turkey.

If you travel from the USA, France, or Germany, you’ll likely find more tours, services, and language support designed with you in mind. But if you travel from a less represented country, expect fewer tailored options, which means planning ahead is key to making your trip smoother and more enjoyable.

 

How much money does tourism bring to the UK?

• Overseas visitors to the UK spent an estimated £31.5 billion in 2024.


• Inbound tourism spending in the UK is projected to rise to £33.7 billion in 2025.

 

How much does tourism contribute to the UK economy?

• Tourism percentage of GDP UK was approximately 1.1% in 2024, reflecting the UK tourism industry's £31.5 billion contribution to the economy.


• Tourism percentage of GDP UK is projected to reach 1.14% in 2025, as the UK tourism industry is expected to contribute £33.7 billion.

The relatively low tourism percentage of GDP in the UK shows that while the industry is valuable, the economy doesn’t rely heavily on it, unlike many top tourist destinations. It means you can expect more tailored, unique experiences and fewer tourist traps in the UK.

 

How many people visit London each year?

• London is projected to receive 20.1 million overseas visitors in 2025 based on current trends.


• In 2024, London welcomed approximately 19 million international visitors.

 

London tourism statistics:

• London accounts for 46.2% of all inbound visits to the UK, highlighting its role as the country’s top tourist destination.


• Estimated spending by overseas visitors in London reached £16.3 billion in 2024.


• In 2025, overseas visitors to London are projected to spend £17.4 billion.


• London accounts for 51.6% of all inbound tourism spending in the UK.

London’s dominance in both visitor numbers and spending confirms its position as the UK’s main tourism magnet. For us, this means we can use London as a convenient entry and exit point, and enjoy its countless free tour options. But to truly experience the UK, it’s worth exploring beyond the capital to discover less crowded, equally rich destinations across the country.

 

Conclusions:

• Tourism matters, but it doesn’t control the UK economy, and that’s good for you. Since tourism makes up just over 1% of UK GDP, you won’t face the pressure or pricing that comes with mass-tourism-reliant countries. This means you can explore more freely, skip overpriced tourist traps, and enjoy a more authentic experience without being treated like just another wallet.


• The USA is expensive, even if fewer people go there. You might think fewer Brits going to the US means lower costs. Wrong. UK travelers spend more there than in Italy, despite smaller numbers. If you're planning a trip to the States, budget more and book flights and accommodation early, or choose smarter long-haul alternatives like Canada or Japan to get more for less.


• London is your entry point, but it shouldn’t be your whole trip. Over half of all UK tourism spending happens in London, which means crowds, queues, and higher prices. Use the city to land, explore, and take a free tour, but then move on to places like York, Bath, or Glasgow where your money goes further, and the streets aren’t packed shoulder to shoulder.

 

Methodology:

The estimates for Q3 2024 to Q4 2025 were calculated by applying the average share of visits to each country from Q1 and Q2 2024 to the total projected outbound tourism figures for each future quarter. Source data was taken from the Overseas Travel and Tourism – Table of Contents published by the Office for National Statistics (UK).

To calculate the total spending by UK citizens on outbound tourism in 2024, we used quarterly data published by the Office for National Statistics (UK). The actual figures for Q1 and Q2 were taken directly from official sources. For Q3 and Q4, where data was not yet available, we extrapolated values using seasonal spending patterns observed in 2023. Specifically, we applied the proportional distribution of total annual spending across each quarter in 2023 to estimate the likely values for the missing quarters in 2024. Once we had all four quarters, we summed them to arrive at a total projected annual spending of £62.7 billion. To generate country-specific estimates, we used the percentage distribution of spending by country from Q2 2024, the latest quarter with detailed breakdowns. These country-level shares were applied proportionally to the full-year total, providing a consistent and data-driven estimate of how much UK tourists spent in each destination.

The data for Q2 2024 was sourced from the Office for National Statistics (UK). Percentages were calculated by dividing each visit category by the total number of inbound visits during that quarter.

The distribution of regions visited was estimated using Q2 2024 provisional data from the Office for National Statistics (UK). We calculated the share of visits to London as a percentage of all inbound visits during that quarter. This percentage was then applied to the total number of projected UK visits for the full year to estimate the total number of annual visits to London.

We used the Q2 2024 figures to extract total spending by region, calculated London's share of total inbound spending (51.6%), and applied this percentage to the projected full-year UK tourism spending to estimate annual visitor spending in London.

 

Sources:

• "2025 Inbound Tourism Forecast." VisitBritain.Org, https://www.visitbritain.org/research-insights/inbound-tourism-forecast. Accessed 17 May 2025.


• Leisure and Tourism. https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/leisureandtourism. Accessed 17 May 2025.


• "Dataset Estimates of Overseas Residents’ Visits and Spending." Office for National Statistics, 20 July 2422, https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/leisureandtourism/datasets/estimatesofoverseasresidentsvisitsandspendingintheuk.


• “IBISWorld - Industry Market Research, Reports, and Statistics.” Www.ibisworld.com, https://www.ibisworld.com/uk/bed/outbound-tourism-by-uk-residents/44060/.


• Powell, Andy. “Gross Domestic Product (GDP): Key Economic Indicators.” Commonslibrary.parliament.uk, 14 May 2025, commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/sn02783/.