Tourism agency VisitBritain has welcomed the announcement that the UK's image overseas and perception as a tourist destination has improved over the last 12 months.

According to the latest Anholt-GFK Roper Nation Brands Index (NBI), the country is now one position higher in the overall global rankings when compared with last year.

The UK is also one of the few locations across the world to be one of the top six nations in all six brand measurements which are analysed by the NBI on a yearly basis.

VisitBritain chief executive Sandie Dawe said: "Particularly encouraging is the news that China and India - two vital markets offering long-term growth potential for inbound tourism - rank the UK very highly as an aspirational destination.

"It is our ambition to attract an additional four million overseas visitors over the next four years, and that will mean turning these positive perceptions into new arrivals."

www.visitbritain.org