UK airports are powering the inbound tourism industry - and we’re ready to do more to reach the Government’s growth ambitions.

From the bustling streets of London to the rolling hills of the Lake District, Britain’s tourism offer is one of its greatest assets.  

For generations, visitors have been drawn to these shores in their millions – whether that is by historical monuments dating back centuries, world-leading sports and cultural events or stunning countryside and coastlines. 

And Britain’s global appeal appears to be stronger than ever, with new data from Visit Britain estimating 41.2m international visitors came here in 2024 –the highest number to ever to be recorded - up 9% on 2023.  

That resulted in a record £31.5bn being spent by overseas visitors last year. Visit Britain estimates 2025 will once again be a record-breaker for inbound tourism, with visitor numbers growing further to 43.4m and an extra £2.2bn spent. With around three quarters of international visitors arriving by air, it underlines how critical inbound tourism is as a source of jobs and economic activity, and why we should continue to promote “brand Britain” in all four corners of the world. 

That is why I am pleased to be a member of the Government’s newly-formed Visitor Economy Advisory Council. Working collaboratively with partners including VisitBritain, we have an ambitious goal to reach 50 million annual international visitors by 2030. 

I am also proud to be leading a British-based organisation that has a unique role to play in achieving that goal. 

Born more than 85-years ago in Northern England, we are now the UK’s largest group of airports – and the only one providing direct access to the North, South and Midlands. 

Collectively serving more than 61m passengers a year and connecting people to more than 260 destinations worldwide, each is contributing to the sustainable success of our visitor economy in their own way.  

Take London Stansted, which plays a pivotal role in welcoming visitors to the UK who might otherwise not be able to. It has more European connections than any other UK airport, sitting alongside a key double-daily service to Dubai. 

According to Visit Britain’s report, visits to friends and relatives have led the inbound tourism recovery post-pandemic and will continue to be a critical source of visits.  

At Stansted, we serve not just capital cities and major hubs, but a wide range of smaller towns and cities across the continent. That means millions of people who might not  otherwise find an affordable way to visit London – and the wider UK – are able to do so through our connectivity. That is reflected in the fact around a third of all Stansted passengers are international visitors. 

We also know Visit Britain is focussed on ensuring tourism growth signals benefits for all parts of the UK, reflecting the rich assets that exist the length and breadth of the country. 

Manchester Airport is the UK’s global gateway in the North – proudly connecting the North with North America, Asia, Africa and the Middle East, on top of its extensive European network. 

It brings more visitors to Britain than any other airport outside of London and we know its location in the heart of the country – equidistant from London, Edinburgh and Cardiff is appealing to visitors, especially those travelling from long haul markets.  

Within two hours of Manchester Airport are seven Premier League football clubs, three coastlines and three national parks, as well as numerous world-famous attractions, whether that be the Beatles Museum, York Minster or Durham Cathedral. 

Supporting the visitor economy in this way is just another illustration of the central role a thriving aviation sector has to play in supporting the Government’s growth mission. 

To maximise our contribution, we are investing record sums in our infrastructure. With more than £2bn set to be spent on our airports over the next five years, we are the largest private investor in transport infrastructure outside the M25.  

That includes the completion of a 10-year transformation of Manchester, which will unlock the potential of its existing two runways, help attract more services to far flung destinations and provide millions more visitors a world-class welcome to the UK via the North. 

As we prepare to complete that investment this year, we are poised to get going on a £1.1bn investment in London Stansted. Together, these private investments will help inspire travellers from around the world to explore a new corner of the UK for first time – whether that be getting their first taste of Kendal Mint Cake, or seeing the NFL take London by storm. 

Working with Government, we can not only make the UK the most attractive place in the world to visitors, but make it easy for them to get here and have an unforgettable experience.