Figures from the retail tourism expert Global Blue have supported Visit Britain’s announcement that more overseas visitors came to the UK last year than ever before.
Chief executive of Heart of London Business Alliance, Ros Morgan said: “London, and the West End, is a huge contributor to the UK’s tourist economy and last year’s positive growth shows the importance of our city to destination UK. We know the weakened pound played a role in attracting visitor spend, but now is the time to ensure we continue to inspire visitors’ to travel here and support our thriving tourist economy and remind visitors that #londonisopen.”
In London, Chinese visitors accounted for the greatest share of international tax free shopping spend in 2016 at 21%. This was an increase of 17% compared with 2015. Saudi Arabia and the UAE accounted for 8% of London’s tax free shopping market each, with their spend climbing by 14% and 28% respectively.
The United States, which Visit Britain has named as the UK’s most valuable tourism source market, accounted for 5% of London’s international tax free spend which was an increase of 39% on 2015.
