New figures from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) have revealed a 5 per cent increase in the number of overseas residents visiting the UK during July, compared with the same period last year.

For the three-month period between May and July 2010, the ONS posted a 3 per cent increase in inbound visitors to the UK, when compared with the same period last year. However, there was a 2 per cent fall in overseas visitor numbers for the year ending July 2010, compared with the previous 12 months, while there was a quarterly decrease in the number of UK residents travelling abroad between May and June.

For the year ending July 2010, there was a 10 per cent drop in UK residents' travelling overseas to less than 60 million, compared with 62.4 million trips abroad during the 12 months to July 2009.