VISITS SPEND (000) % change 03/02 �m % change 03/02 JUNE � AUGUST 2003 7,890 +2 3,870 -1 North America 1,470 -7 Western Europe 4,700 +4 Rest of World 1,710 +8 AUGUST 2003 ONLY 2,820 +5 1,500 +7 North America 480 -4 Western Europe 1,700 +6 Rest of World 630 +6 YEAR-TO-DATE 16,480 +1 7,710 0 North America 2,830 -9 Western Europe 10,560 +3 Rest of World 3,090 +2

Latest inbound tourism figures released today for the three months to August 2003 confirm that the industry is well on the way to recovery with overseas visits from many countries during the summer up on the previous year.

However, North American visits are still low (-7% during June � August 2003 compared with the same period in 2002), but better than they were earlier in the year (-14% during March to May 2003, compared with March to May 2002).

Visitors from Western Europe in the three months to August were up 4% on last year, bringing visits for the year to date from Europe level with figures for the first eight months of 2000, the last �normal� year for inbound tourism.

Spending by overall overseas visitors in the UK for the year to date is on a par with last year, meaning that inbound tourism is on track to contribute almost �12 billion to the UK economy this year.

Regarding prospects for the final quarter, Western Europe is expected to continue to do well with VisitBritain�s latest campaign already drawing attention to Britain. North American figures will improve more slowly, particularly compared to a very strong last quarter in 2002, while visits from the Rest of World region offer good prospects for growth.

Tom Wright, chief executive, VisitBritain said:

�With the increase in overall visits during August, the industry is generally performing more strongly. We always knew it might take a number of years to recover fully from the events of 2001, particularly given the setbacks we experienced earlier this year with the Iraq war and the Sars outbreak dampening international travel from many markets.

�Our priority is to build on the healthy demand that exists for Britain in our established markets while making sure that we capitalise on the massive potential in currently less developed markets.�

- ends - For further information, please contact: Elliott Frisby, Corporate Press Officer: Tel � 020 8563 3035, Mob � 07951 996241

Notes to Editors � The full press release concerning inbound visits, Overseas Travel and Tourism, issued by the Office for National Statistics can be viewed here: www.statistics.gov.uk/press_release/currentreleases.asp. Data for September 2003 is due for release on 5 November 2003 � VisitBritain is a new organisation created on 1 April to market Britain to the rest of the world and England to the British. Formed by the merger of the British Tourist Authority and the English Tourism Council, its mission is to build the value of tourism by creating world class destination brands and marketing campaigns. It will also build partnerships with - and provide insights to - other organisations which have a stake in British and English tourism � Latest figures show that in 2002 there were 24.1 million overseas visitors (6% increase compared to 2001) to the UK who spent �11.7 billion, a rise of +4% compared to 2001. In 2002, 134.9 million visits were made by UK residents to England (2.3% increase on 2001), spending �20.8 billion � a rise of 2.5% compared to 2001 � VisitBritain offers a range of marketing opportunities and services for UK operators wishing to reach overseas markets. For further details, visit the website, www.visitbritain.com/ukindustry or contact the trade helpdesk � tel: 020 8563 3186; fax: 020 8563 3352; e-mail: industry.relations@visitbritain.org � An archive of media releases, information on VisitBritain's marketing activities, around 100 print quality, free-to-download images and more details about the work of VisitBritain in promoting Britain as a destination, can be found on VisitBritain�s new online press centre, www.visitbritain.com/presscentre