The tables illustrate the number of visits abroad made by UK residents between 1994 and 1998, classified by the purpose of visit and by the main destination region.
Overall, the total number of visits abroad increased considerably during the period, with holidays being the main reason for travel. Western Europe remained by far the most popular destination, while visits to North America and other areas rose steadily but still accounted for a much smaller proportion.
In terms of purpose, holidays consistently represented the largest share of visits, growing from just over 15 million in 1994 to more than 20 million in 1998. Business-related travel also rose moderately, from 3.1 million to nearly 4 million over the same period. Visits to friends and relatives showed gradual growth as well, reaching 3.2 million in 1998. By contrast, the number of trips for other reasons fluctuated slightly but remained below 1.1 million throughout.
Looking at destinations, Western Europe dominated the figures, attracting almost 19.4 million visitors in 1994 and peaking at 24.5 million in 1998. Meanwhile, visits to North America rose from just under one million to 1.8 million, showing a steady upward trend. A similar pattern is visible for “other areas,” which saw an increase from 1.8 million to 2.5 million. Altogether, the total number of visits abroad grew from around 22 million in 1994 to nearly 29 million by 1998.