Soccer, shopping lure Gulf region visitors to UK

Soccer and shopping are luring more Middle East visitors to the UK, according to VisitBritain organisation. A total of 494,000 people from Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates made trips to the UK last year – nine per cent more...

Soccer and shopping are luring more Middle East visitors to the UK, according to VisitBritain organisation.

A total of 494,000 people from Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates made trips to the UK last year – nine per cent more than in 2008, the VisitBritain said.

These Gulf Region tourists said they were particularly attracted to the UK by the opportunity to shop for fashion and luxury goods and to watch Premier League football.

The region made up 1.7 per cent of overseas visitors to the UK last year but as much as 5.2 per cent of foreign visitor spending.

In 2009, Gulf Region visitors spent £586 million while on trips to the UK. This was an average of £1,733 per person – more than three times the overall tourist average of £554.

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