The line graph compares the number of overseas visitors who travelled to the UK, measured in millions, according to their purpose of travel over the period from 1989 to 2009.
Overall, holidays remained the most common reason for visiting the UK throughout most of the period, although business travel briefly became equally popular in the early 2000s. The number of visitors travelling for business and to meet friends and relatives increased considerably overall, whereas holidaymakers experienced mild fluctuations. Notably, all three categories ended the period at higher levels, compared with those of in 1989.
In 1989, approximately 6.5 million international visitors travelled to the UK for holidays, compared with 5 million for business purposes and a mere 3.5 million to meet friends and relatives. The number of people at holydays remained stable at around 6.5 million before rising sharply to a peak of 9 million in 1994. It then declined steadily, reaching about 7 million in 1999 and 6.5 million in 2002. After remaining unchanged in 2004, the figure climbed considerably to 8 million in 2007 and eventually returned to its previous peak of 9 million in 2009.
Business travel bucked this downward trend, with the number of visitors falling from 5 million in 1989 to approximately 4 million in the early 1990s. However, this was followed by a substantial increase, with the figure reaching around 6.5 million in 1999 and remaining at roughly the same level in 2002. It then rose to 7 million in 2004 and peaked at 8 million in 2007, before falling slightly to 7 million in 2009. Similarly, the number visiting friends and relatives increased steadily from 3.5 million to 7 million in 2007, before declining to 6 million at the end of the timeframe.