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Domestic Visitor Profile

The United Kingdom Tourism Survey (UKTS) is a national consumer survey measuring the volume and value of tourism trips taken by residents of the United Kingdom. It is jointly sponsored by VisitBritain, VisitScotland, Wales Tourist Board and Northern Ireland Tourist Board. The survey covers trips away from home lasting one night or more taken by UK residents for the purpose of holidays, visits to friends or relatives, business and conferences or any other purpose. The following tables summarise the key characteristics of UK residents' trips to the South East.

In May 2005 the four national tourist boards introduced a new methodology for the United Kingdom Tourism Survey replacing a telephone methodology with a face-to-face survey methodology. The change was brought about as a result of doubts in the validity of the survey data produced by the telephone methodology, which in 2004 produced significant drops in the levels of domestic tourism, going against other survey data and industry feedback. Since the new survey commenced in May 2005, VisitBritain and the other national tourist boards have estimated the number of trips for the period January - April 2005. 2005 data is not comparable with previous years due to the introduction of this new methodology.

Origin of Visitors 2004-2006

 
  % of
Trips		    
  2004 2005 2006 2007
Yorkshire & Humber 6 5 4

4
North West 7 6 6 4
East Midlands 7 5 5 6
South East 28 32 34 35
East of England 11 11 12 11
North East 3 2 1 1
West Midlands 8 6 5 6
South West 10 13 13 13
London 11 12 14 15
Scotland 4 2 2 2
Wales 4 4 3 3
Northern Ireland 1 1 1 1
TOTAL 100 100 100 100

 

Purpose of Visit 2004 -2006

 
  % of
Trips		    
  2004 2005 2006 2007
Holiday, pleasure/leisure 41 34 33 35
Holiday, visiting friends or relatives 16 26 23 21
Business 13 17 15 14
Other visits to friends or relatives 26 21 26 28
Other 4 2 3 2
TOTAL 100 100 100 100

 

Accommodation Used 2004 - 2006

 
  % of
Trips		    
  2004 2005 2006 2007
Hotel/Motel/Guesthouse 31 30 26 28
B&B/Farmhouse B&B 5 2 4 3
Rented House/Flat/Chalet 3 4 4 3
Hostel/School/University 1 2 3 2
Friend or Relative's Home 48 53 51 50
Second Home/Timeshare 1 1 1 2
Caravan & Camping 4 8 9 9
Other 11 3 2 3
TOTAL 100 100 100 100

 

Figures may over add due to more than one accommodation type being used

 

Seasonality of Trips, 2004 - 2006

 
  % of
Trips		    
  2004 2005 2006 2007
Jan, Feb, Mar 25   18 21
Apr, May, Jun 24   25 26
Jul, Aug, Sep 29 28 32 32
Oct, Nov, Dec20 23 23 25 21
TOTAL 100 100 100 100

 

Note: UK residents' data for 2005 is only available for May-December

 

Transport Used in the South East, 2004 - 2006

 
  % of
Trips		    
  2004 2005 2006 2007
Train 13 11 11 13
Regular bus/coach 4 2 3 3
Organised coach 3 3 2 2
Car 69 76 78 77
Plane 5 2 3 2
Other 6 6 3 3
TOTAL 100 100 100 100

 

 

Age Profile of Visitors, 2004 - 2006

 
  % of
Trips		    
  2004 2005 2006 2007
16-24 17 14 16 16
25-34 18 17 17 16
35-44 22 25 23 24
45-54 16 15 15 16
55-64 13 14 15 14
65+ 14 14 13 13
TOTAL 100 100 100 100

 

 

Social Profile of Visitors, 2004 - 2006

 
  % of
Trips		    
  2004 2005 2006 2007
AB 38 36 35 39
C1 32 34 31 33
C2 17 17 16 15
DE 14 13 17 13
TOTAL 100 100 100 100

 

 

Source: United Kingdom Tourism Survey (UKTS)

NB All data relates to visits made by UK residents to South East England. Totals may not add due to rounding.

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