New figures from the Workplace for Nationwide Statistics (ONS) have revealed abroad travellers made simply 398,000 journeys to the UK within the second quarter of the yr.
This was down a staggering 96 per cent from the identical interval final yr.
The ONS positioned the blame for the decline squarely on the Covid-19 pandemic.
In complete, abroad residents spent £218 million on their visits to the UK in within the second quarter of the yr.
The determine was once more down 97 per cent on the identical interval of 2019.
UK residents made 939,000 visits overseas in over the three-month interval, which was 96 per cent fewer than the corresponding interval the earlier yr.
They spent £402 million on visits overseas.
The ONS mentioned information assortment by the Worldwide Passenger Survey was suspended for the interval lined, so the figures are primarily based on administrative sources and modelling.
Commenting on the information, and ABTA spokesperson mentioned: “At this time’s ONS figures for abroad journey in April to June 2020 lay naked the devasting affect Covid-19 has had on the trade.
“Whereas the figures relate to the primary lockdown interval, since then the trade has needed to cope with consistently altering journey recommendation and quarantine measures, in addition to native lockdowns, which means there was very restricted scope for restoration within the journey trade.
“Consequently tens of hundreds of jobs have already been misplaced and plenty of companies have closed their doorways for good.
“Along with tailor-made monetary help for journey firms, the federal government must implement an efficient testing regime and introduce a completely regionalised journey hall strategy by the point lockdown is lifted to assist folks really feel extra assured to journey.
“It additionally must introduce flexibility into the furlough scheme to help companies who have to have employees processing refunds, however gained’t be producing revenue.”
