Tourism boosted by weaker pound

The recent weakening of sterling on the currency markets appears to be attracting more overseas visitors to the UK.

According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the number of tourists and other travellers rose to 7.6 million over the three months to April 2009.

This is three per cent more than the total measured during the previous three months.

Since last year, the pound has dipped dramatically in value, as investors move their holdings into ’safer’ currencies such as the dollar in the financial crisis.

In consequence, sterling moved from a 2008 high of $2.10 against the greenback to hit a 24-year low of $1.35 in January, before rising again to over $1.60.

It has been a similar story with the euro, with the pound hitting an all-time low of €1.02 in January.

These trends make purchasing UK goods and services, including holidays, cheaper for people in the US and eurozone.

However, prevailing economic conditions have resulted in a general reduction in tourism, with visitor numbers falling seven per cent from February-April 2008 to 2009.ADNFCR-2318-ID-19227468-ADNFCR