The line graph illustrates the number of overseas visitors who travelled to the UK for various purposes over a span of two decades, from 1989 to 2009. The units are measured in millions.Overall, it is clear that the number of people visiting the UK for holidays remained the highest throughout the entire period. In contrast, meeting friends and relatives, despite some growth, generally attracted the lowest number of visitors.
To begin with, the number of people who visited the UK to meet friends and relatives stood at about 3 million in 1989. After that, this figure rose gradually and peaked at approximately 6 million between 2004 and 2007, before dropping slightly by 1 million in 2009. Meanwhile, the number of overseas visitors who went to the UK for business purposes started at 5 million in 1989. In 1994, this figure dropped slightly by 1 million, but then it increased remarkably and fluctuated over time, finally peaking at 7 million in 2009.
Regarding holidaymakers, the number of people who visited the UK for this purpose stood at around 6 million in the beginning and remained stable from 1989 to 1994. Following this, the figure underwent a noticeable growth and reached 9 million. Between 1994 and 2009, the number of holiday visitors decreased slowly at times but peaked at 9 million again in 2009.