The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said foreign residents made 15.24 million visits to Britain in the six month to June, an increase of 4 percent year on year.

　　At the same time, overseas visitors spent 8.72 billion pounds (13.60 billion U.S. dollars) during their stay in Britain, up by 11 percent over the same period of last year.

　　According to the ONS figures, the number of visits to Britain by overseas residents in June was 2.9 million, 12 percent more than a year earlier.

　　During the period April to June, overseas residents made 5 percent more visits to Britain than a year earlier and spent 10 percent more on these visits, said the ONS.

　　In the 12 months to June 2013, the number of visits abroad by British residents remained broadly the same when compared with a year earlier, but expenditure on these visits grew by 3 percent.

　　Visits to Europe by British residents rose by 2 percent while those to North America fell by 8 percent and to other countries fell by 4 percent, said the ONS.