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October 2023 - Sport, Leisure and Tourism

A survey has found that the number of overseas visitors to Wales has dropped by a third: Figures from the International Passenger Survey (IPS)  show there were 33% fewer overseas visitors to Wales in 2022, compared to three years ago in 2019. On top of that, the amount of money overseas visitors spent was found to have dropped by nearly a quarter (24%) from the 2019 figure, found the research.

The IPS collects data from passengers as they arrive at or leave the UK by principal air, sea and tunnel routes.  Released by the Welsh government, the data revealed that the cost-of-living crisis was found to be the main reason which has deterred overseas travellers visiting Wales, rather than the wet weather, which may have been a previous reason back in 2019, and before Covid.

Visitor spend

Other findings highlighted that the estimated visitor spending in Wales in 2022 was £391 million, down from the £515 million spent in 2019 before the pandemic and the £440 million spent in 2018.

The research also found that international visits to Wales for a holiday have dropped by 43% since 2019, with visits to friends and relatives being given as the most popular reason for travel. However, friends and relative trips have dropped by 21% since 2019.

Results Elsewhere

Results elsewhere in the UK were more positive than for Wales. While Scotland had 7% fewer visitors from 2019 (with 3.2 million visits), the nation had a record spend of £3.2 billion in 2022, representing a 24% increase. For the London figures, there were no increases, but the percentage changes are still better than Wales’ figures. London had 26% fewer overseas visitors compared to 2019, found the research, with aa 10% drop in spending since 2019.

For the rest of England, visitor spending was only down by 6% from 2019 and visits down by 22%.

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