GBTS and UKTS previous years annual reports
Below is the annual data for the Great Britain Tourism Survey (GBTS) and United Kingdom Tourism Survey (UKTS) dating back to 2005.
Methodological details
Results from 2005-2010 consider the whole of the UK, and are not directly comparable with the current GBTS, which considers residents of Great Britain only.
Results from 2011 are from the current GBTS.
GB / UK Tourist annual reports
- The GB Tourist 2015 (PDF, 2.9MB)
- The GB Tourist 2014 (PDF, 5.55MB)
- The GB Tourist 2013 (PDF, 3.56MB)
- The GB Tourist 2012 (PDF, 5.3MB)
- The GB Tourist 2011 (PDF, 5.14MB)
- The UK Tourist 2010 (PDF, 106MB)
- The UK Tourist 2009 (PDF, 727.5MB)
- The UK Tourist 2008 (PDF, 749.93KB)
- The UK Tourist 2007 (PDF, 735.5KB)
- The UK Tourist 2006 (PDF, 1.16MB)
- The UK Tourist 2005 (PDF, 806.07KB)
Great Britain Tourism Survey 2014
Domestic Tourism Overview 2014
2014 Performance Summary
In 2014, British residents took 92.6 million overnight trips in England, totalling 273 million nights away from home, with an expenditure of £18.1 billion.totalling 273 million nights away from home, with an expenditure of £18.1 billion.
£195 was spent per trip, and with an average trip length of 2.95 nights, the average spend per night was £66.
Overall trends
The number of domestic trips was 9% lower than in 2013, and the amount spent fell by 3% (in nominal terms).
Trends by trip purpose
Holiday travel
41 million holiday trips were taken in England in 2014, with spending of £10 billion. The number of holiday trips taken was 9% lower than in 2013, and the amount spent 4% lower.
At 26.5 million, short breaks of 1-3 nights account for almost two-thirds of English holidays by volume, and just over half the market value (£5.3 billion), with an average spend per night of £103, and spend per trip of £199.
14.3 million 4+ night holidays were taken, generating £4.8 billion in expenditure. While spend per trip is higher than for short breaks (£335), average spend per night is considerably lower (£56).
Business travel
13.5 million overnight business trips were taken in England in 2014, worth £3.5 billion. The number of business trips fell by 10% year-on-year, while spending fell by 4%.
Visiting friends and relatives (VFR)
The number of VFR trips taken fell back by 6% in 2014, to 36 million, though the amount spent remained static at £4.1 billion.
Within VFR, there were differing trends by trip purpose. The number of “holiday” VFR trips rose by 1.5%, and associated spending rose by 7%. However, other, so-called “duty” VFR trips declined, with a 16% decrease in trip volumes, and a 12% fall in value.
Summary tables
England
- England - All Trip Purposes 2014 (PDF, 284KB)
- England - All Trip Purposes 2014 (Excel, 35KB)
- England - Holidays 2014 (PDF, 277KB)
- England - Holidays 2014 (Excel, 34KB)
- England - VFR 2014 (PDF, 281KB)
- England - VFR 2014 (Excel, 36KB)
- England - Business 2014 (PDF, 212KB)
- England - Business 2014 (Excel, 31KB)
Great Britain
Trips to different parts of England in 2014
In this section, you can find the volume and value of domestic overnight trips to different parts of England.
Regions of England
We have published factsheets on each of the nine regions of England. Download the Regional Factsheets in PDF (ZIP, 3.77MB) and Excel format (ZIP, 381KB)
Each quarter we publish GBTS results for the nine regions, covering the volume and value of domestic overnight trips to different parts of England. This includes quarterly, year-to- date and past 12-month figures.
- GBTS Quarterly Regional Summary Q4 2014 (PDF, 299KB)
- GBTS Quarterly Regional Summary Q3 2014 (PDF, 299KB)
- GBTS Quarterly Regional Summary Q2 2014 (PDF, 299KB)
- GBTS Quarterly Regional Summary Q1 2014 (PDF, 289KB)
We've also published a brief topic paper on the origin and destination of holidaymakers 2014 (PDF, 467KB)
Most Visited Towns
The Most Visited Towns data is published using three-year averages, listing the most visited English towns by trip numbers and spend - in total, for holiday trips, and for business trips. The most recent data is for the three-year period from 2012-2014.
Local Authorities and other areas
For other geographical areas of England (Local Authorities, Counties, Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEP) areas and Parliamentary Constituencies) data is published using three-year averages only. The most recent data is for the three-year period from 2012-2014.
An introduction to this analysis (Word, 28KB).
The data is available in Excel as follows:
- Master Spreadsheet (Local Authorities, Counties, LEP areas) (Excel, 471KB)
- Local Authorities Spreadsheet (Excel, 263KB)
- Counties Spreadsheet (Excel, 59KB)
- LEP Spreadsheet (Excel, 35KB)
- Constituencies Spreadsheet (Excel, 177KB)
A combined spreadsheet has been produced for Local Authorities including data from both the GBTS survey (domestic overnight trips) and the GBDVS survey (day visits) to create a combined total of all domestic trips to Local Authorities.
GBTS 2014 monthly results
- October to December 2014: Commentary of results (PDF, 409KB) | Summary tables (PDF, 512KB) | 12 month rolling report (PDF, 2.8MB)
- September: Commentary of Results (PDF, 259KB) | Table of Results (PDF, 596KB) | 12 months rolling report (PDF, 2.9MB)
- August: Commentary of Results (PDF, 259KB) | Table of Results (PDF, 589KB) | 12 months rolling report (PDF, 2.8MB)
- July: Commentary of Results (PDF, 260KB)260KB) | Table of Results (PDF, 582KB) | 12 months rolling report (PDF, 2.8MB)
- June: Commentary of Results (PDF, 261KB) | Table of Results (PDF, 540KB) | 12 months rolling report (PDF, 2.9MB)
- May: Commentary of Results (PDF, 261KB) | Table of Results (PDF, 498KB) | 12 months rolling report (PDF, 2.8MB)
- April: Commentary of Results (PDF, 206KB) | Table of Results (PDF, 577KB) | 12 months rolling report (PDF, 1MB)
- March: Commentary of Results (PDF, 258KB) | Table of Results (PDF, 540KB) | 12 months rolling report (PDF, 2MB)
- February: Commentary of Results (PDF, 253KB) | Table of Results (PDF, 505KB) | 12 months rolling report (PDF, 2.5MB)
- January: Commentary of results (PDF, 257KB) | Summary tables (PDF, 347KB)
Great Britain Tourism Survey 2013
In 2013, British residents took 102 million overnight trips in England, totalling 297 million nights away from home, with expenditure of £18.7 billion. £184 was spent per trip, and with an average trip length of 2.9 nights, the average spend per night was £63.totalling 297 million nights away from home, with expenditure of £18.7 billion. £184 was spent per trip, and with an average trip length of 2.9 nights, the average spend per night was £63.
For detailed results, download the GB Tourist 2013 report (PDF, 3.56MB).
Overall trends
The Domestic Tourism Overview 2013 shows the number of domestic trips was 3% lower than in 2013, and the amount spent fell by 4% (in nominal terms).
Holiday travel
45 million holiday trips were taken in England in 2013, with spending of £10.5 billion. The number of holiday trips taken was 2% lower than in 2012, though volumes remain well above pre-recession levels (2006-2008 average trip volume was 40.5 million).
Business travel
15.1 million overnight business trips were taken in England in 2013, worth £3.7 billion. The number of trips fell by 5% year-on-year, while spending fell by 3%. Business trip volumes are therefore slightly below those recorded in the 2006-8 period (2006-8 average 15.3 million).
Visiting friends and relatives (VFR)
The number of VFR trips taken fell back by 2% in 2013, to 38.2 million, with a 3% decline in spending to £4.1 billion. Within VFR there were differing trends by trip purpose, with a 2% increase in “holiday” VFR but a decrease of 7% in other, “duty” VFR trips.
Summary tables
England
- England - All Trip Purposes 2013) PDF, 285KB)
- England - Holidays 2013 (PDF, 279KB)
- England - Holidays 1-3 nights 2013 (PDF, 279KB)
- England - Holidays 4+ nights 2013 (PDF, 279KB)
Great Britain
- GB - All Trip Purposes 2013 (PDF, 284KB)
- GB - Holidays 2013 (PDF, 279KB)
- GB - Holidays 1-3 nights (PDF, 279KB)
- GB - Holidays 4+ nights (PDF, 279KB)
2013 Monthly GBTS results
- December: Commentary of Results (PDF, 322KB) | Table of Results (PDF, 424KB)
- November: Commentary of Results (PDF, 263KB) | Table of Results (PDF, 451KB)
- October: Commentary of Results (PDF, 263KB) | Table of Results (PDF, 446KB)446KB)
- September 2013: Commentary of Results (PDF, 262KB) | Table of Results (PDF, 411KB)
- August 2013 Commentary of Results (PDF, 209KB)209KB) | Table of Results (PDF, 435KB)
- July 2013: Commentary of Results (PDF, 240KB) | Table of Results (PDF, 432KB)
- June 2013: Commentary of Results (PDF, 207KB) | Table of Results (PDF, 426KB)
- May 2013: Commentary of Results (PDF, 208KB)) | Table of Results (PDF, 422KB)
- April 2013: Commentary of Results (PDF, 206KB) | Table of Results (PDF, 416KB)
- March: Commentary of Results (PDF, 205KB) | Table of Results (PDF, 414KB)
- February: Commentary of Results (PDF, 205KB) | Table of Results (PDF, 409KB)
- January: Commentary of Results (PDF, 178KB) | Table of Results (PDF, 367KB)
Trips to different parts of England in 2013
Regions of England
Each quarter we publish GBTS results for the nine regions of England, including quarterly, year to date and past 12-month figures.
Most Visited Towns
The Most Visited Towns Analysis (PDF, 34KB) lists the top English towns in 2013 by trip numbers and spend – in total, for holiday trips, and for business trips.
Other areas
For other geographical areas of England (Local Authorities, Counties, Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEP) areas and Parliamentary Constituencies) data is published using three-year averages only. The most recent data is for the three-year period from 2011-2013.
See an introduction to this analysis (PDF, 34KB).
Available data:
- Local Authorities - 3-year averages 2006-2013) (Excel, 228KB)
- Counties - 3-year averages 2006-2013 (Excel, 54KB)
- Local Enterprise Partnership Areas 2010-2013 (Excel, 33KB)
- Parliamentary Constituencies 2010-2013 (Excel, 147KB)147KB)
- Master Spreadsheet (Local Authorities, Counties, LEP areas, Constituencies) (Excel, 398KB)
Great Britain Tourism Survey 2012
Overview of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games
Domestic overnight visitors
In 2012, the GBTS question about activities undertaken during trips was amended to include five options related to the 2012 Games:
- Attended a 2012 Olympics/Paralympics sports event
- Attended the 2012 Olympic Torch relay
- Attended an Inspire Mark Olympic event
- Attended a Cultural Olympiad event, the 2012 Festival, or any other 'official' Olympic-related event
- Visited the Olympic Park in London (without attending a ‘ticketed’ sporting event)
Between July and September 2012, 1.1 million overnight trips were taken in Great Britain which involved one of the above activities. Spending on these trips totalled £331 million.totalled £331 million.
Detailed results for each activity are broken out in this chart (PDF, 80KB).
Domestic day visitors
The same questions were included in the GB Day Visit Survey. This showed that in the same three-month period, 11.4 million tourism day visits included one of the five Olympic activities, with spending of just over £1 billion. More detailed results are available in the Day Visits section of our website.
The GB Tourist 2012
The GB Tourist 2012 (PDF, 5.3MB) is the annual report of the GB Tourism Survey, with detailed analysis of results by nation, trip purpose and trip characteristics.
Domestic tourism overview 2012 - England and Great Britain
Summary
In 2012, British residents took 104 million overnight trips in England, totalling 310 million nights away from home, with expenditure of £19.5 billion. £187 was spent per trip, and with an average trip length of 3.0 nights, the average spend per night was £63.totalling 310 million nights away from home, with expenditure of £19.5 billion. £187 was spent per trip, and with an average trip length of 3.0 nights, the average spend per night was £63.
Overall trends
The number of domestic trips taken was unchanged compared to 2011, but the amount spent rose by 9% (in nominal terms). The volume and value of domestic trips in 2012 were at their highest levels since the start of the current survey in 2006.
2012 Trends by trip purpose
Holiday travel
46 million holiday trips were taken in England in 2012, with spending of £11 billion. The number of holiday trips taken was unchanged compared to 2011, leaving volumes well above pre-recession levels (2006-2008 average trip volume was 40.5 million), with spending up by 10%.
Business travel
15.9 million overnight business trips were taken in England in 2012, worth £3.8 billion. The number of trips increased by 3% year-on-year, while spending grew by 6%. Trip volumes are now slightly ahead of those recorded in the 2006-8 period (2006-8 average 15.3 million).
Visiting friends and relatives (VFR)
The number of VFR trips taken fell back slightly (-1%) in 2012, to 38.9 million, though the amount spent increased by 7% to £4.2 billion. Within VFR there were differing trends by trip purpose, with a 5% increase in 'holiday' VFR but a decrease of 8% in other, 'duty' VFR trips.
Headline summary
The Headline Summary - 2012 GBTS (PDF, 349KB) shows the volume and value of domestic overnight trips to Great Britain & England by trip purpose.
Summary tables
A summary of results comparing 2011 and 2012 across key variables.
Trips to different parts of England in 2012
Regions of England
Each quarter we publish GBTS results for the nine regions of England, including quarterly, year-to-date and past 12-month figures.
Most Visited Towns 2012
The Most Visited Towns Analysis lists the top English towns in 2012 by trip numbers and spend – in total, for holiday trips, and for business trips.
Other areas
For other geographical areas of England (Local Authorities, Counties, Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEP) areas and Parliamentary Constituencies) data is published using three-year averages only - the most recent data is for the three-year period from 2010-2012. See an introduction to this analysis (PDF, 297KB).
The data is available in Excel as follows:
- Local Authorities - 3-year averages 2006-2012) Excel, 191KB)
- Counties - 3-year averages 2006-2012 (Excel, 49KB)
- Local Enterprise Partnership Areas 2010-2012 (Excel, 27KB)
- Parliamentary Constituencies 2010-2012 (Excel, 75KB)
- Master Spreadsheet (Local Authorities, Counties, LEP areas, Constituencies) Excel, 281KB)
2012 Monthly Toplines and Commentaries
- December: Table of Results (PDF, 495KB) | Commentary of Results (PDF, 205KB)
- November: Table of Results (PDF, 495KB) | Commentary of Results (PDF, 207KB)
- October: Table of Results (PDF, 433KB) 433KB) | Commentary of Results (PDF, 207KB)
- September: Table of Results (PDF, 431KB) | Commentary of Results (PDF, 207KB)
- August: Table of Results (PDF, 421KB) | Commentary of Results (PDF, 208KB)
- July: Table of Results (PDF, 396KB)396KB) | 396KB) | 396KB) | Commentary of Results (PDF, 205KB)
- June: Table of Results (PDF, 295KB) | Commentary of Results (PDF, 207KB)
- May: Table of Results (PDF, 388KB) | Commentary of Results (PDF, 207KB)
- April: Table of Results (PDF, 382KB) | Commentary of Results (PDF, 207KB)
- March: Table of Results (PDF, 336KB) 336KB) | Commentary of Results (PDS, 207KB)
- February: Table of Results (PDF, 359KB) 359KB) | Commentary of Results (PDF, 207KB)
- January: Table of Results (PDF, 1.29MB) | Commentary of Results (PDF, 179KB)179KB)
Activities in 2012
A summary of leisure activities undertaken on domestic overnight trips in 2012
In the 2012 GB Tourism Survey, respondents who had taken an overnight trip within England were asked to state what leisure activities they had undertaken as part of that trip. See the summarised results from this question:
- 2012 Activities - Headline Summary (PDF, 316KB) 316KB)
- 2012 Activities - By Destination Type (PDF, 395KB)
- 2012 Activities - By Region (PDF, 664KB)
Microdata
An Excel file containing the 2012 microdata set (Excel, 1KB) for key GBTS variables.
Great Britain Tourism Survey 2011
The GB Tourist is the annual report of the GB Tourism Survey, with detailed analysis of results by nation, trip purpose and trip characteristics.
The GB Tourist 2011 (PDF, 5.3MB)
Domestic Tourism Overview 2011 - England and Great Britain
Summary
In 2011, British residents took 104 million overnight trips in England, totalling 307 million nights away from home, with expenditure of £17.9 billion. £172 was spent per trip, and with an average trip length of 2.9 nights, the average spend per night was £58.totalling 307 million nights away from home, with expenditure of £17.9 billion. £172 was spent per trip, and with an average trip length of 2.9 nights, the average spend per night was £58.
Overall trends
The number of domestic trips taken increased in 2011 by 9%, accompanied by a 13% uplift in spending (in nominal terms). Both volume and value of trips in 2011 were at their highest levels since the start of the current survey in 2006.
Trends by trip purpose
Holiday travel
46 million holiday trips were taken in England in 2011, with spending of £10 billion. The number of holiday trips taken increased by 6% compared to 2010, leaving volumes well above pre-recession levels (2006-2008 average trip volume = 40.5 million).
Business travel
15.5 million overnight business trips were taken in England in 2011, worth £3.5 billion. The 15% uplift in business travel volumes between 2010 and 2011 came after four successive years of decline, and means that business travel activity and spending are now back at pre-recession levels.
Visiting friends and relatives (VFR)
VFR travel too saw an uplift in 2011, with the 39 million trips taken representing a 10% growth in volume, while spending of £3.9 billion was 12% higher than in the previous year. However, the number of trips taken still remains below its pre-recession peak.
Trip length
In both holiday and business travel, there has been a steady decline in trip length in recent years, with holiday trips in 2011 averaging 3.42 nights, and business trips 2.18 nights, down from the 2007 peak of 3.66 and 2.32 nights respectively.
Headline Summary
The Headline Summary - 2011 GBTS (PDF, 235KB)235KB) shows the volume & value of domestic overnight trips to Great Britain & England by trip purpose.
Summary tables
A summary of results comparing 2010 and 2011 across key variables:
