Claims Brexit will boost UK tourism turn out to be a myth as visitors and spending fall Research shows a growing deficit in tourism spending since Brexit

Brexit promises that Britain would be a tourist magnet to beat other world destinations have failed to materialise after visitor numbers fell.

Figures for 2018 compiled by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show a fall in visitor numbers and spend.

VisitBritain says the UK’s tourist deficit – the excess spent by UK travellers abroad over income from foreign visitors in Britain – is bigger than ever at £22.5 billion.

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Some Brexit supporters had framed tourism as one of the winners.

‘Slow down from Europe’

VisitBritain director Patricia Yates told The Independent: “Last year was the second highest year on record after a stellar 2017 for inbound tourism to the UK, both for the number of visits and for spending.

“We have however seen a slowdown from Europe with our research showing concern on the impact that the uncertainty of Brexit is having for visitors from the EU.

“VisitBritain is working very hard to reassure visitors that our message of warm welcome remains.”

Peter Knapp, chairman of the branding consultancy Landor, added: “The indecisiveness of politicians in handling the situation has damaged Britain’s standing in the world and we can see the tangible effect of this in the decline in the number of tourists visiting the country.”

Brexit tourism claims

In October 2016, the Brexiteer MP for South East Cornwall – a tourism-reliant county – Sheryll Murray said in Parliament: “Brexit will enable our wonderful tourism industry to thrive further still.”

Nigel Huddleston, Tory MP for Mid Worcestershire – which includes part of the tourist-attracting Cotswolds – added: “One of the plus points of Brexit and the weak pound is that it makes visits to the UK comparatively more affordable.”

The tourism minister at the time, Tracey Crouch, had said Brexit would “help Britain out-compete other major tourism destinations, to welcome more international visitors than ever before”.

Fewer travellers, less spending

Last year there were 3 per cent fewer overseas visitors than in 2017, representing 1.2 million travellers.

And they spent 7 per cent less – a drop of £1.6bn – according to the ONS.

Meanwhile, 1 per cent fewer British tourists went abroad and there was a 1 per cent drop in their spending.

London, with 19.1 million overnight visits, was unexpectedly first. Second place was Edinburgh and Manchester was third.

For UK tourist Spain is top, followed by France, then Italy.