The line graph illustrates the number of overseas visitors who travelled to the UK for three different purposes – business, holiday, and visiting friends or relatives – between 1989 and 2009.
Overall, the number of visitors for all three purposes increased over the period, although at different rates. While holiday and business trips showed consistent growth, visits for holidays experienced some fluctuations after peaking in the mid-1990s.
In 1989, the UK received around 6 million holiday visitors, which was the highest among the three categories. This figure rose significantly to approximately 9 million in 1995, before falling steadily to around 7 million by 2009. Business trips, on the other hand, started at about 4 million in 1989 and showed steady growth throughout the period, reaching almost 9 million by the end of 2009, overtaking holiday visits.
Meanwhile, visits to meet friends and relatives began at the lowest point, with only about 3 million in 1989. This category, however, experienced a gradual increase, surpassing 6 million by 2009, although it never exceeded the figures for either business or holiday travel.
In conclusion, business trips became the most common reason for overseas visitors to the UK by 2009, overtaking holidays, while visits to relatives showed the slowest but steady growth over the two decades.