Putting a price on value of tourism

Visitor numbers have increased 49 per cent since 1983 to a total of 18.5 million last year.

The average length of stay of visitors has fallen from 11.6 days in 1983 to 10.1 days in 1992.

London is the single most popular destination and enjoys a 54 per cent share of the market.

In 1992, 65 per cent of the overseas visitors were from Europe.

Last year, North American visitors accounted for 18.2 per cent of total numbers but spent more than 22 per cent of the overseas' visitors' total.

More than a quarter of all overseas tourism spending is accounted for by shopping.

Of the total tourism-related spending, 33 per cent went on accommodation, 24 per cent on eating out and 19 per cent on shopping.

Since 1983, the fastest growing tourism area has been Cumbria with a 60 per cent increase in overseas visitor numbers.

Other big increases include the Heart of England (central Midlands) up by 57 per cent; East Midlands (up 56 per cent); and the Thames and Chiltern area, up 56 per cent.

South American visitors increased by 115 per cent, from 109,000 in 1983 to 234,000 last year.

Far Eastern visitors rose 106 per cent - from 581,000 in 1983 to 1.19 million in 1992.