UK tourist numbers still feeling FMD effects

Tourist numbers travelling to Britain are still considerably affected by the foot-and-mouth outbreak of 2001.

The number of foreign tourists visiting Britain picked up last month but is still well down on totals reached before the foot-and-mouth outbreak, it was disclosed today.

Overseas visitors coming to Britain fell 1.33% in June 2002 compared with June 2001, the British Incoming Tour Operators Association (BITOA) said.

Although still a decline, the June figure was the lowest year-on-year dip for at least 12 months and compared with a 4.78% fall in May 2002.

The British Tourist Authority has invested heavily in an advertising campaign in Ireland to try to encourage Irish people to travel over to Britain.