The graph illustrates the number of overseas visitors to the UK for three distinct purposes – holiday, business, and visiting friends or relatives – over a 20-year period from 1989 to 2009.
Overall, holiday visits consistently constituted the largest share of international arrivals each year, although there were some fluctuations, particularly in the middle years. Business and visits to friends and relatives followed similar, though more modest, patterns throughout the period.
Holiday visits were the most prominent, starting at just under 6.5 million in 1989 and gradually increasing to around 7 million by 1994. The number of visitors peaked at slightly more than 9 million in 1999 before experiencing a decline to just below 8 million by 2004. However, this figure rebounded in the final years, reaching about 9 million once again by 2009.
In comparison, both business and visits to friends and relatives remained relatively lower. Business visits began at over 5 million in 1989, rising steadily to 7 million by 2000. Despite a sharp drop to 4 million in 1993, the numbers recovered and peaked at 8 million in 2008. However, business visits saw a sharp decline the following year, dropping to under 7 million. On the other hand, visits to friends and relatives started at just above 3.5 million and showed a steady upward trend, reaching 7 million by 2004. This category saw only a slight dip in the last year, with the number of visitors dropping to around 6 million in 2009