The number of overseas leisure visitors to London increased by 7 per cent to around 7 million during 2009, according to provisional figures from the International Passenger Survey (IPS).

Despite a 19 per cent fall in business tourism numbers, the figures published by tourism agency Visit London revealed that more than 14 million international residents visited the capital last year. Compared with findings for 2008, leisure visitor spend increased by nearly a quarter to around £4bn while total expenditure grew by 3 per cent to £8bn.

Many of the capital's primary inbound markets - Germany (34 per cent), Spain (27 per cent) and France (19 per cent) - increased in 2009, while the USA market saw its first growth for two years. Visit London chief executive officer Sally Chatterjee said: "2009 was an incredibly tough year for the tourism industry in London but the provisional IPS figures reveal, for the first time, that there are signs of recovery.

"London has continued to outperform the rest of the UK and we believe it is crucial to continue with our proactive promotion of the capital."