London & Partners: London Continues to Enjoy Record International Visitor Numbers

LONDON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–London’s tourism boom has continued during the second quarter of 2015,
with the city welcoming a record 5.1 million international visitors
between April and June this year, six per cent more than the same period
last year, according to the Office for National Statistics International
Passenger Survey (IPS).

Tourist spending over the same period was £3.2 billion, an eight per
cent increase compared with the second quarter of 2014. Over the past
five years (2009-2014), the number of overseas visitors coming to London
has risen by 22.5 per cent.

The national picture is also positive with 9.9 million international
visitors coming to the UK between April and June 2015, five per cent
more than the same period last year. Over half of these international
visits to the UK were to London. Tourist spending across the UK over
this period was £5.8 billion, a seven per cent increase compared with
the second quarter of 2014.

The latest figures follow on from a record-breaking 2014 when 17.4
million overseas visitors travelled to London, spending £11.8 billion
across the city’s restaurants, hotels and attractions. Earlier this year
the capital was named the most popular tourist destination in the world
for the second year running by MasterCard in the Global Cities Index
report. According to the report, London is forecast to host 18.82
million international visitors in 2015 putting the city ahead of Bangkok
and Paris.

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, welcomed the figures. He said:
“These numbers prove that our great capital is without a doubt the best
place on earth to visit. People come from around the world to experience
our unique mix of history, culture, shopping and world-class events.
With our spectacular Autumn season of culture and the Rugby World Cup
having put London in the spotlight once again, we’ll undoubtedly be
welcoming even more tourists to London in the months ahead.”

Gordon Innes, CEO at London & Partners, the capital’s official
promotional organisation adds: “The positive figures for the second
quarter of 2015 bode well for another year of strong visitor numbers and
spend across the city’s museums and art galleries, attractions,
restaurants and hotels. As VisitLondon.com we constantly look for new
ways to build and grow the city’s tourism offer which supports tens of
thousands of jobs across the capital. That work includes innovative
campaigns promoting London to the world such as the launch of London’s
Autumn Season of Culture and our hugely successful Guest of Honour
campaign.”

The IPS figures show that London’s popularity is going from strength to
strength, with increasing numbers of visitors coming to London each year
to attend the capital’s calendar of world-class exhibitions, visit the
city’s famous landmarks, enjoy its diverse culture, and watch major
sporting events.

London’s Autumn Season of blockbuster exhibitions, including Cosmonauts:
Birth of the Space Age at the Science Museum and Crime Museum Uncovered
at the Museum of London, are expected to attract many thousands of
international visitors. The city’s major events are also drawing
significant numbers of tourists. Earlier this year the capital hosted
the annual cycling event Prudential RideLondon, and over the last month
has welcomed some of the biggest matches of the 2015 Rugby World Cup. In
January 2016, the city will add another major event to its calendar with
the free outdoor light festival, Lumiere London. This is the first event
of its kind to take place in the capital and will feature a stunning
array of light installations, to be enjoyed by Londoners and visitors
alike.

ENDS

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About London & Partners

London & Partners is the official promotional company for London. We
promote London and attract businesses, events, congresses, students and
visitors to the capital. Our aims are to build London’s international
reputation and to attract investment and visitor spend, which create
jobs and growth.

London & Partners is a not-for-profit public private partnership, funded
by the Mayor of London and our network of commercial partners.

For more information visit www.londonandpartners.com

Contacts

London & Partners Media & PR Team
Tel: +44 (0)20 7234 5710
Switch:
+44 (0)20 7234 5800
press@londonandpartners.com
Twitter:
@London_PR