§ Mr. SpringTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate he has made of the net effect on the balance of payments of British visitors going abroad and overseas visitors coming to the United Kingdom in(a) 1996, (b) 1997 and (c) 1998. [86697]
§ Janet AndersonThe Office for National Statistics has estimated, using data from the International Passenger Survey and other sources, that the direct contribution to the UK balance of payments arising from tourism activities is as shown in the table. This is not a full account of the balance of payments effects of tourism,180W which would need to include, for example, overseas trade in tourism goods and the international investment flows of tourism companies.
£ million 1996 1997 1998 Exports: earnings from overseas visitors to UK 13,770 13,805 14,432 Imports: expenditure by UK residents going abroad 16,729 17,402 20,008 Balance of trade in services -2,959 -3,597 -5,576 Source:
Office for National Statistics 1996, 1997, 1998.