The UK has seen visitor numbers drop 8 per cent from 70.6 million to 64.6 million over the 12 months to May 2009, according to the Office of National Statistics (ONS).

When compared to the previous three months, the seasonally-adjusted number of visitors between March and May this year increased by 3 per cent to 7.5 million - with associated spending increasing 6 per cent to £4.1bn - while the number of visits by UK residents abroad decreased by 2 per cent to 15.3 million, with spend decreasing 8 per cent to £7.9bn.

However, in the 12 months to May 2009, visitors from Europe decreased 6 per cent to 22.7 million and visitors from North America fell a huge 20 per cent to 3.5 million. Visits from other parts of the world fell 10 per cent to 4.2 million.

In that same annual period, visits abroad by UK residents also fell 8 per cent, from 70.6 million to 64.6 million.