Olympics failed to boost visitor numbers to Britain, but tourist revenue rose in August

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Fireworks explode on the iconic Tower Bridge over the River Thames in central London, decorated with Olympic rings, July 27, 2012, in London. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Vadim Ghirda

LONDON – Statistics show that the Olympics failed to bring a surge in visitors to Britain, but those who did come spent more.

The Office for National Statistics says 3 million people came to Britain during August, 5 per cent down on the year before. But earnings from visitors were 9 per cent higher than in August 2011.

The Olympic Games ran July 27-Aug. 12, and the Paralympics Aug. 29-Sept. 9.

Many businesses complained of slow business during the games, and blamed predictions of crowding and travel chaos for scaring off visitors.

The figures released Thursday show that, despite some predictions, there was no mass Olympic exodus from the country. Residents of Britain made 7.3 million visits abroad in August, about the same number as the year before.

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