The graph illustrates the number of overseas visitors who travelled to the UK for three different purposes – business, holidays, and visiting friends or relatives – between 1989 and 2009.
Overall, the number of visitors coming for all three purposes showed an upward trend over the 20-year period, with holiday visits being the most popular throughout. While business travel and visiting friends or relatives both increased moderately, holiday travel experienced the most noticeable growth.
In 1989, around 6.5 million people visited the UK for holidays. This figure remained stable until the early 1990s but then rose significantly, peaking at 9 million in 1999. A dip followed, with numbers declining to about 6.5 million again by 2004, before increasing sharply and reaching a new peak of 9 million in 2009, the highest among all three categories.
In contrast, business-related visits began at 5 million in 1989, dropped to 4 million in 1991, and then steadily increased over the years. By 2006, business travel peaked at over 7.5 million, before slightly declining to around 7 million by 2009.
The number of visitors coming to meet friends or relatives showed the most consistent growth. Starting from 3.5 million in 1989, it gradually increased over the years, peaking at approximately 7 million in 2006. However, this number slightly declined by the end of the period, falling to just over 6 million in 2009.