In 2011, we sponsored specific questions in the International Passenger Survey (IPS) to find out how many visitors from overseas undertook particular activities whilst in Britain, including going to the countryside and coast. The results were as follows:
Activities undertaken by visitors to Britain
| Activities asked about | Visits which involved activity | Nights spent in UK by those whose visit included activity* | Total spent in UK by those whose visit included activity* | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Visits (000) | % of all visits | % of holiday visits | Nights (000) | £(m) | |
| Visited parks / gardens | 11,081 | 36% | 54% | 114,312 | £7,826 |
| Went to countryside / villages | 5,336 | 18% | 22% | 72,418 | £4,205 |
| Went to coast / beaches | 3,582 | 12% | 15% | 54,292 | £2,853 |
| Participated in sport | 707 | 2% | 3% | 10,989 | £730 |
| Walking / hiking | 142 | 20% | % of those that took part in sport | 2,589 | £146 |
| Cycling / mountain biking | 57 | 8% | 1,158 | £57 | |
| Football | 105 | 15% | 2,671 | £176 | |
| Golf | 116 | 16% | 1,529 | £159 | |
| Rugby | 26 | 4% | 440 | £17 | |
| Cricket | 22 | 3% | 452 | £21 | |
* Nights and spend are not specifically whilst under-taking activity but throughout visit to UK
Source International Passenger Survey 2011
Propensity for holidays in UK nations and regions involving specific activities
IPS figures also show that Scotland, Wales, the South West and Yorkshire are most likely to see holiday visits involving visiting rural or coastal locations and walking. Visiting the countryside is especially common in Yorkshire, Scotland and the South West, with walking in the countryside common in the South West, Scotland and Wales. Visiting villages is most popular in the South West while visiting national parks is particularly popular in Wales, Yorkshire and the South West.
Visiting the coast / beaches, and walking by the coast is particularly likely in Wales and the South West, followed by the North East, Scotland and the South East.
| Visiting rural / coastal locations, participating in outdoor /sports activities | ALL | SW | SE | LON | EE | WM | EM | YKS | NW | NE | WL | SC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Countryside | 20% | 51% | 38% | 9% | 31% | 25% | 34% | 55% | 22% | 24% | 49% | 52% |
| Villages | 19% | 55% | 39% | 9% | 32% | 26% | 20% | 44% | 16% | 28% | 42% | 42% |
| Coast / beaches | 11% | 48% | 37% | 3% | 16% | 9% | 14% | 22% | 14% | 31% | 53% | 35% |
| National Parks | 7% | 26% | 11% | 4% | 4% | 8% | 8% | 26% | 9% | 16% | 30% | 25% |
| Walk in countryside | 24% | 58% | 45% | 12% | 27% | 33% | 32% | 37% | 24% | 26% | 50% | 52% |
| Walking by coast | 8% | 37% | 25% | 2% | 9% | 4% | 4% | 15% | 8% | 35% | 38% | 29% |
| Playing golf | 2% | 3% | 4% | 0% | 3% | 3% | 3% | 5% | 1% | 0% | 3% | 7% |
| Going cycling | 1% | 7% | 2% | 1% | 3% | 2% | 2% | 2% | 0% | 4% | 1% | 2% |
Source International Passenger Survey 2006-2011
