Travel data to and from the UK

The number of travellers to and from the UK over Spring has not returned to pre-covid figures.

The Office of national statistics (ONS) released the provisional results of overseas travel and tourism to and from the UK between April and June 2022.

The data from the International passenger survey covers passengers travelling through air, sea and tunnel ports.

In June 7.8m Brits travelled abroad, a significant but expected increase from July 2021 which only saw 1.4m travel.

Figures between January and June 2021 only counted travellers by air due to the covid restrictions at ports.

Whilst abroad in June UK residents spent £6.2b, a figure which is relatively the same as the period before the pandemic.

But despite the travel chaos experienced by many this June, there was a decrease of 15% in international passengers from the same period in 2019.

As expected the number of international visitors to the UK has increased from the same period over the last two years but it is still lower than in 2019.

The number of overseas visitors to the UK in June was 3m, a decrease of 19% from June 2019 but an increase of 23% from May.

Visitors to the UK spent £2.7b in June 2022 which is roughly the same as the period of June 2022 but considering the decrease in visitors means visitors are spending more.

This expenditure is not likely to continue due to the cost of living crisis which will have a significant impact on the amount of money being spent whilst abroad and visitors to the UK.

Travel publication Lonely Planet named two UK destinations, Manchester and Southern Scotland, as must-visit destinations for new experiences in their prestigious annual Best in Travel results for 2023.

Due to the decrease in travel over the pandemic, it is not yet clear what impact the UK leaving the European Union has had on British tourism.

Given the increase in demand at airports seen during peak season, it is expected that the next set of results will see major increases in travel to and from the UK.

Travel across the Irish border is not included in the survey.

Figures for the rest of the summer have not yet been released, but they will give a clearer indication of travel trends for the future.

Whilst figures for 2023 are likely to stay much higher than during the pandemic, the global financial crisis is likely to have an impact on passenger numbers.