International visits and spend to Wales

Last updated: October 2025

The International Passenger Survey conducted by the ONS takes a sample of visitors from multiple ports of entry across the UK and surveys them on their trip to the UK. These findings are used to estimate the number of visitors, the length of time in the UK, what they spent on their trip, and what was the purpose of their visit.

• Total Visits: 929,000
• Total Nights Stayed: 7 million
• Total Spend: £488 million overall

When compared with the same time last year

• The volume of international trips and value of spend has increased.  
• Visits were up 4% compared to 2023 but down 10% on 2019.
• Total spend was down 5% versus 2019 (in nominal terms) and 11% greater versus 2023.

Trip Characteristics

• Average Trip Duration: 7.5 nights
• Average Spend per Night: £70
• Average Spend per Trip: £525

Top Inbound Markets

1. Republic of Ireland – 123,000 visits
2. Germany – 109,000 visits
3. USA – 90,000 visits

The International Passenger Survey (IPS) has been collecting data on passengers leaving the UK since 1961. It uses anonymous, face-to-face interviews with a random sample of travellers.

• Wales Sample Size (2024): 1,074 interviews
• Sample was drawn from all major ports of egress in the UK. In Wales this included: Cardiff Airport, Holyhead, Pembroke, and Fishguard

Methodology Update

Following a review, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has updated its data collection and survey methods to improve accuracy and coherence.

Note: Quarter three and quarter four of 2024 results are official statistics under development, which means quality assurance is ongoing. Estimates are subject to change and should not be used for policy or decision making. Read more about this here: Office of National Statistics.

For detailed insights including:

• Regional breakdowns
• Trip purposes
• Submarket data

Visit the Visit Britain research page and explore their interactive visualiser.