American Travellers Drive UK’s Recovery
The COVID-19 pandemic brought unprecedented challenges to the global tourism industry, affecting destinations around the world, including the United Kingdom. However, as travel restrictions gradually ease and international borders reopen, American tourists are emerging as a driving force in the UK's recovery.
Tourists from the US are driving the UK’s recovery more than any other region, according to VisitBritain and they are spending more than they did in 2019.
The latest data from the International Passenger Survey (IPS) and the Office of National Statistics (ONS) revealed that visitor numbers from the United States surpassed pre-pandemic levels.
The majority of the Americans travelling to the UK are doing so for leisure trips (48 percent), while 29 percent visited to spend time with friends and relatives, and 13 percent of American travellers were in Britain for business purposes.
Top UK Destination For Americans
Nearly half of US visitors spent the night in London (46 percent), with the remainder of the nights spread across the rest of England (36 percent), Scotland (17 percent), Wales (1 percent) and Northern Ireland (0.5 percent).
The UK welcomed a total of 31.2 million inbound visitors in 2022, which is a 24 percent decline from 2019.
VisitBritain plans to prioritise deriving more value from American tourists “Our priority now is to build on the strong recovery we have seen, tapping into the pent-up demand for travel in the US market and inspiring visitors to explore farther and stay longer on their next trip to Britain,” said Paul Gauger, VisitBritain Executive Vice President, The Americas, Australia and New Zealand.
VisitBritain forecasts Britain will host 35.1 million visitors in 2023, up 18 percent from 2022 but down 14 percent from 2019. Spending in 2023 will amount to £29.5 billion ($36 billion), up 4 percent from 2019.
Do Americans Need A Visa To The UK?
American citizens are able to visit for up to six months without a visa.
Americans planning a trip to the UK for pleasure or business do not need a visa to enter the UK. However, Americans must ensure that their passport is valid for the duration of their stay and has at least one blank page.
A visa is required should US travellers wish to stay in the UK for longer than 6 months, be it for work, study or any reason.
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