Travel body accuses government of ‘sabotaging’ UK tourism industry

WTTC says 5.3% decline in tourist spend suggests policies such as increased air passenger duty have had impact

The government has been accused of “sabotaging” the UK’s tourism industry, after figures showed international visitors spent more than £2bn less last year than they did before the pandemic.

The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) – which found in a new study that people visiting the UK spent £40.3bn in 2024, down 5.3% on 2019 – said that the government has made “deliberate policy choices” that had created “barriers to travel”.

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