The line graph compares the number of visits to and from the UK between 1979 and 1999, while the bar chart illustrates the most popular destinations among UK residents in 1999.
Overall, both inbound and outbound travel increased considerably over the 20-year period, with UK residents travelling abroad far more than overseas visitors coming to the UK. In 1999, France and Spain were by far the most preferred destinations for British travellers.
In 1979, there were just over 10 million trips made by UK residents to foreign countries, compared with roughly 8 million visits to the UK by overseas tourists. Both figures rose steadily until the mid-1980s, after which outbound travel experienced a much sharper increase. By 1999, the number of UK residents travelling abroad had reached approximately 55 million, more than double the figure for overseas visitors, which grew more gradually to around 30 million.
Turning to the bar chart, France was the most visited country in 1999, attracting nearly 12 million UK residents. Spain ranked second with roughly 10 million visitors. The USA recorded significantly lower numbers, followed by Greece, while Turkey was the least popular destination, receiving only a small fraction of the total UK travellers.
In summary, outbound travel from the UK grew at a far faster pace than inbound tourism, and European destinations – particularly France and Spain – dominated UK residents’ travel preferences in 1999.