Image: Inbound numbers were up in the year to May

New inbound tourism figures from the International Passenger Survey (IPS) "show promise at a key time" for the UK sector, according to national tourism agency VisitBritain.

During the year ending May 2012, the total number of visits by overseas residents was up 3 per cent to 31.3 million on 2011 - 12.3 million of which were holiday visits (up 3 per cent).

Visitor expenditure during the 12-month period grew 6 per cent to £18.2bn and VisitBritain said the growth shows the international GREAT marketing campaign is proving successful.

Despite the encouraging figures, VisitBritain chair Christopher Rodrigues said there was no room for complacency and said the agency would continue its work after London 2012.

Rodrigues said: "The Games provide a wonderful platform, but tourism is a fiercely competitive business and there is no room for complacency. The real challenge comes after.

"VisitBritain and its partners will roll out of the next phase of the GREAT campaign immediately after the Games to ensure that the unprecedented coverage of Britain during the Games is converted into increased visitors to our country."

Details: www.visitbritain.com

Image: Kamira/shutterstock.com