VisitBritain has issued an updated forecast for inbound tourism in 2008 and an initial forecast for 2009.  International tourism, including inbound tourism to the United Kingdom faces a very challenging period and our forecast is that the volume of inbound tourism will decline in 2008 and potentially in 2009.  The value of inbound tourism looks set to decline in real terms in 2008 and is likely to be static in real terms in 2009.  Tourism can be influenced by a wide variety of factors, and along with detailing our forecasts the December 2008 edition of Foresight explores what looks set to shape trends during the coming year.

Click here to view further details

The United Nations World Tourism Organisation has released provisional figures showing the top destinations in 2007 for both international tourism arrivals and receipts.  The following one-page summary provides further details:

Top global tourism destinations in 2007