§ Mr. SandersTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the impact of the value of the pound on the(a) domestic tourism industry and (b) number of overseas visitors to the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement. [117936]
§ Janet AndersonUK residents spent 16 per cent. more and took 19 per cent. more trips within the UK in 1999 compared with 1998, according to the UK Tourism Survey. I am advised by the British Tourist Authority (BTA) that a strong economy and lower unemployment30W levels are likely to be among the factors which have been encouraging UK residents to take more holidays in Britain as well as abroad.
The number of overseas visitors to the UK in 1999 was the second highest on record, according to International Passenger Survey estimates. While sterling appreciated more substantially against the euro than it did against the US dollar, the number of visitors from North America and Western Europe remained about the same as in 1998. The value of sterling is one of many factors that overseas visitors take into account when deciding whether to visit Britain.