Recession effect: Less tourists visiting Britain

LONDON: Recession has led to a sharp decline in the number of tourists arriving to experience the sights and sounds of Britain and one million less foreigners visited country in the first three months of 2009.

In the first three months of 2009, one million less foreigners visited Britain compared to the corresponding period last year, the Office of national Statistics (ONS) said.

The latest figures also showed a decline in the number of Indian tourists who were among the highest spenders in Britain Until mid-2008.

In February VisitBritain, the official tourism authority, launched a range of popular travel products to attract the tourists from India.

The products includes bus travel cards, London pass -- that allows entry into select tourist spots, and tickets to other tourist attractions that travellers can buy in India before flying to Britain.

But such measures have not enthused the inveterate Indian tourist.

"The figures illustrate the continuing challenges of maintaining Britain's popularity as a destination in the face of the global economic downturn and increasing competition from rival destinations," Andie Dawe, chief executive of VisitBritain, said.