The given chart provides information on the number of foreign visitors who stayed in the UK for distinct reasons from 1989 and 2009.
Overall, all the trends enjoyed an upward movement, with the biggest share of travelers giving preference to spending their holiday as the main reason for coming to the country.
According to the data, individuals tended to visit the UK the most for holidays, with over 6 million of foreigners in 1989. The trend in question displayed a significant climb and reached the figure of almost 10 million people in the year 1999. However, that number gradually fell in 2004, accounting for less than 8 million visitors. In the end of the period, the figure showcased a surge to approximately 9 million.
In the regard for people visiting the country for business purposes, it was established as the second popular choice among travelers. The number stood at around 5.5 million in 1989 and then surged steadily to roughly 7 million over the decade, showing a minor instability between 1989 and 1994. This trend showed certain fluctuations, returning to 7 million people in 2009. Conversely, the trend of visiting friends or family members showed less fluctuations. Starting from 1989 to 2004, the figure rose steadily from less than 4 million to a whopping number of approximately 7 million. The last four years, the line went slightly down, accounting for more than 6 million travelers in 2009.