Dec. 30–BRITAIN is expected to enjoy another record year of tourism as the fall in the pound since Brexit attracts visitors from overseas.
Spending by tourists is predicted to reach pounds sterling 24.1bn in 2017, up 8pc on this year, according to Government-backed agency VisitBritain.
More than 38.1m tourists are expected, up 4pc, drawn by events such as the World Athletics Championships in July and the Edinburgh Festival's 70th anniversary in August.
Sally Balcombe, chief executive of VisitBritain, said: 'These figures not only underpin a longer-term pattern of growth for inbound tourism, one of our fastest-growing export industries, but also demonstrate its growing importance as a key driver for economic growth and jobs.'
But the 10pc fall in the pound could hurt UK shoppers as food inflation leaves families with less to spend on other items.
Prices could rise between 2.5pc and 3pc next year, led by an expected 2.4pc rise in the price of food and groceries, says The Retail Think Tank.
(c) Daily Mail
