The graph illustrates the changes in the number of people visiting the UK for business, holidays and meeting friends and relatives between 1989 and 2009.
Overall, the number of overseas visitors to the UK for all three purposes increased, however, they followed different patterns. Notably, the holidays remained the most popular reason for visiting the UK for most of the period.
In 1989, about 6.5 million people visited the UK for holidays. Thereafter, the number of people rose sharply, reaching its peak at 9 million visitors in 1994. However, the figure witnessed a steady fall between 1994 and 2004, hitting 6.5 million in 2004, and followed by a further recovery to 9 million overseas visitors in the UK in 2009.
In terms of business trips and meeting friends and relatives, the figures followed a relatively similar pattern, although in 1989 the trends were different (a modest fall for business and a slight climb for meeting friends and relatives). In 1991, the numbers were equal and stood at 4 million visitors. Thereafter, both figures experienced a considerable increase and reached their peak at 8 million and 7 million in 2006. In the final years they decreased slightly to 7 million and 6 million visitors, respectively.