Italians in London, visitors to double-digit percentage in 2011

Continues the positive trend for the inbound to London. The budget provided by the International Passenger Survey (IPS) of London & Partners shows that, in 2011, the British capital has upheld the 19 per cent more Italian visitors, an increase of 23 percentage points of their spending in the city.

Continuing the wave of the increase observed in 2010, the annual total recorded visits were up 3.5 percent over the previous year, reaching 15.2 million, a rate slightly higher than the total visits in the United Kingdom, which are increased by 2.9 percent. The result is slightly below the record highs of 2006.

Events such as the Royal Wedding in April, which attracted over one million people in the streets of London, have encouraged the arrival of leisure visitors. The sporting events have also seen the arrival of thousands of fans in London for the finals of the Uefa Cup in May.

"It is - says Gordon Innes, CEO of London & Partners – a very encouraging data for the capital. Last year we have organized several unique and spectacular event for visitors to the leisure segment, in addition to the lively demand for those who come here for business ".

For the next few years, new sceneries provided by Oxford Economics expect 12.7 million visitors, both foreign and domestic, that will stop at least two days in London during 2012. Forecasts up to 2015 are also positive and is estimated to increase to a total of 11 per cent over 2013-15, with a profit of 14.1 million visitors arriving in the capital in 2015.

Source TTG Italy