According to the Office for National Statistics International Passenger Survey report, London welcomed more than 5.2 million visitors last year.
The 5.9 per cent increase in visitors last year comes after a 22.5 per cent increase in the number of international tourists over the last 5 years.
The capital also boosted the number of overall tourists to the UK, for a total of 10.5 million international visits, a 4.7 per cent increase when compared to 2014.
The mayor of London, Boris Johnson, commented:
“London is the best big city on the planet.
“We really know how to roll out the red carpet and put on a show for the millions of visitors who flock here year after year.
“Only last week, Lumiere London, the city’s biggest-ever light festival, gave over a million people an unforgettable experience in the West End and King’s Cross.
“With another exciting programme of events planned this year, as well as our unbeatable cultural and other attractions, we are looking forward to welcoming even more tourists in the months ahead.”
The rise in the number of domestic visits to the city and the growing number of foreign visits have brought £2.25 billion to London’s economy, almost 30 per cent more than five years ago.
A major contributor to the city’s economy, the tourism sector brings strong influx of more than £36 billion and supports 700,000 thousand jobs.
Gordon Innes, CEO of London & Partners, the company that promotes the UK capital, declared:
“Today’s visitor numbers show that London is more attractive than ever.
“The tourism industry is a key pillar of the capital’s economy providing great employment opportunities, including many entry level jobs, for Londoners and investment right across the city.
“That’s why we work tirelessly with our partners, museums, attractions, hotels, restaurants and many more to ensure that London remains the destination city of choice for overseas visitors.”
As a forecast, the number of visitors traveling to the UK in 2016 is expected to boost to 36.7 million, spending £23 billion.
